16 July 2002
Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) Steve Maharey announced today that targeted funds would be made
available to increase e-learning capability throughout the tertiary education sector.
Labour will provide $37.8 million over four years for this purpose, as part of the Strategic Development Component of
the new integrated funding framework. $28 million over four years will be allocated as capital funding through a
Collaborative Development Fund. A further $6.3 million for operating and $3.5 million for capital will be used to build
capability and create a tertiary education portal.
Steve Maharey said the portal and fund were the primary recommendations of the E-learning Advisory Group’s report,
Highways and Pathways: Exploring New Zealand’s E-learning Opportunities.
“We set up the Advisory Group because the Government is committed to developing e-learning with tertiary education
providers. E-learning refers to the use of the internet and associated web-based applications as the delivery mechanism
for the learning experience.
“We want to help tertiary education providers to work in partnership to develop e-learning, to improve access to
tertiary education and to ensure that New Zealand remains competitive at an international level.”
“Labour will provide $7 million a year for a contestable Collaborative Development Fund. This will be used to provide
capital to tertiary education organisations to enable the purchase of both hardware and software. The criteria of the
fund will be designed to reduce duplication and encourage co-operation between tertiary education providers and
commercial entities.
“The tertiary education portal will facilitate the distribution of e-learning information in New Zealand. It will help
people to access digital learning objects, as well as encourage people to work together to develop expertise.
“The shared portal will reduce the overall implementation costs and allow quality branding of e-learning provision,”
Steve Maharey said.
Ends