Tertiary Education Commission announces reviews

28 February 2005

Tertiary Education Commission announces reviews of education and training provision

The Tertiary Education Commission has commenced a round of reviews of education and training provision to increase the strategic relevance of government-funded tertiary education.

TEC’s Acting General Manager Max Kerr says the reviews are designed to ensure more relevant and effective tertiary provision.

“Relevance is a key element of the Tertiary Education Strategy. It is crucial that tertiary providers design and deliver programmes that address the skill, knowledge and development needs of learners and New Zealand’s communities and industries.

“In November 2004, the Government invited the TEC to review discrete areas of tertiary provision with a view to identifying programmes of low relevance in terms of national goals as set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy. The aim is to re-invest in areas of education and training that are of higher relevance and value.

“The reviews are expected to lead to funding shifts in 2006. The TEC will make decisions in time for tertiary education organisations to take the findings of the reviews into account as they prepare their Profiles for 2006.”

The reviews cover the following four areas: Assessment of Strategic Relevance of programmes run by Private Training Establishments (PTEs). One third of total provision will be reviewed in 2005, focusing on the four largest areas of PTE provision: Tourism, Business and Management, Philosophy and Religion, and Personal Services (including hairdressing, beautician and cosmetics). This is the first phase of implementation of a new Funding Framework for PTEs receiving Student Component funding. Review of non-degree programmes largely classified in Funding Categories A1 and J1, covering non-degree arts, social sciences, general education, business and law education. These programmes account for around 30% of total student component funding. Review of overlapping provision, including duplication of trades- focused training for employees, between Industry Training Organisations and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics. Review of diving provision. This is expected to lead to a better match in supply and demand for vocational skills.

Max Kerr said the reviews signalled a new phase in the Commission’s work on implementing the Tertiary Education Strategy.

“The TEC will be working with the appropriate lead bodies in the next few weeks to agree approaches to the reviews. This will feed into the development of guidelines for Profiles that tertiary education organisations will be preparing this year for 2006/2008.”

A review of aviation provision has been under way for some time and will conclude in mid-2005.

ENDS

© Scoop Media