Private Providers Score Big on Research Assessment
“Private training establishments have excelled in the Performance Based Research Fund results just released by
the Tertiary Education Commission. After the 7 older universities, ITI members fill places 8, 9 and 10 – ahead of
Auckland University of Technology. They also placed ahead of 2 polytechnics, four colleges of education and a wananga.
These are great results that show the strength of private tertiary education in this country”, said Dave Guerin, ITI
executive director.
ITI represents 5 of the 7 private training establishments (PTEs) involved in the Performance Based Research Fund
(PBRF): Carey Baptist College (placed at 8), Anamata (9), Bible College of New Zealand (10), Whitecliffe College of Art
and Design (14) and Bethlehem Institute of Education (22). The five PTEs specialise in subjects such as theology, te reo
Maori, art, counselling and teacher education.
“ITI’s members were some of the first institutions outside of the university sector to receive degree
accreditation and the PBRF results show that their staff are doing a great job. PTEs can stand tall on the basis of
these results.”
“We also congratulate the universities, which focus much more on research than other providers, for their
deserved results.”
“The assessment of research quality was a necessary step for the tertiary education sector, but all of ITI’s
members look forward to when assessments of teaching quality and graduate outcomes are also carried out and published.
When that happens, students and others will have a complete range of information to make study decisions.”
“The Government also deserves a pat on the back for developing and implementing the PBRF. It has required a lot
of work and courage but it provides a useful benchmark for the tertiary education sector’s performance.”