Breach means training provider must repay $1.47 million

Media release

23 June 2016

Breach means training provider must repay $1.47 million

The New Zealand School of Outdoor Studies is to repay $1.47 million (GST-exclusive) to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) following an investigation which showed that some student enrolments between 2009 -2014 could not be validated and that courses were under-delivered against their agreement with the TEC.

The TEC funding recovery took into account the findings of an Ernst and Young (EY) report that was commissioned by Intueri Education Group Limited and completed in February 2015.

“Our funding conditions are very clear, and tertiary education organisations know them well,” TEC Chief Executive Tim Fowler said.

“We have a sophisticated and effective monitoring framework. If providers are not meeting their obligations we will find out. If they are delivering less than they are being funded for, as the New Zealand School of Outdoor Studies has done, we will seek repayment.”

The school’s owner, Intueri, has been asked to repay the money by the end of August 2016.

The TEC engaged Deloitte to carry out an investigation of the school - which trades as the New Zealand School of Commercial Diver Training (NZSCDT) - in November 2015. The investigation covered six years and focused on two courses leading to certificates in construction diving.

Students who completed these qualifications are not affected by this finding.

The TEC has invested $3,684,168 (GST-exclusive) in the school between 2010 - 2015, the years covered by the investigation.

The Quantum group, also owned by Intueri, is the subject of a separate investigation by the TEC. This is expected to be completed in the latter part of 2016.

ENDS

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