MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 13 May 2004
Equity focus for forum
Equity issues in tertiary education are the basis of an upcoming forum to be co hosted by Aotearoa Tertiary Student
Association (ATSA) and the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE).
The aim of the forum is to highlight barriers for achieving equity that effect both staff and students.
One outcome the forum hopes to achieve will be innovative solutions to barriers that particular groups face in the
tertiary sector for example Maori, Pacific people and the disabled.
In addition the forum will focus on access as an equity issue.
“Regional tertiary providers contribute significantly to economic and community development across New Zealand. Once
students graduate from a regional tertiary provider they are more likely to remain in that community. However, regional
communities have less resource allocated to the provision of tertiary education.
It is likely that access to tertiary study will grow as an equity issue for regional communities as further
rationalisation takes place for the tertiary sector”, says Julie Pettett ATSA president.
The forum will be held June 25-27 at the Tauhara Conference Centre, Acacia Bay, Taupo. ATSA are inviting interested
parties to register for the conference at a cost of $190. All enquiries to research@atsa.org.nz
ENDS