New tertiary funding to address skill needs

The $17 million of new funding distributed this week to private training establishments (PTE) will help address skill shortages emerging across the regions of New Zealand, says Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey.

The Ministry of Education has announced successful applicants for a share of the PTE Strategic Priorities Fund announced in the budget. Forty-eight providers will receive $16.8 million in tuition subsidies in 2003 to educate 2,782 equivalent full-time students (EFTS). Courses leading to 121 qualifications will be supported, with studies in design (549 EFTS, $3.7m), computing and information technology (338 EFTS, $2.1m) and culture and the arts (267 EFTS, $1.8m) receiving nearly half the funding.

Steve Maharey welcomed the funding decisions which confirm the ongoing role PTEs have in the tertiary education sector.

“The PTE Strategic Priorities Fund enables private providers to respond quickly to meet emerging skill gaps and to complement the courses offered by public institutions.

“There were a larger number of applications for funding in this initial round than could be supported. Those that were successful were able to demonstrate alignment with the tertiary education strategy, including how they were meeting the needs of their local community.

“PTEs have a permanent place in the reorganised tertiary education system. Strategic funding to PTEs is a key aspect of the new integrated funding framework for tertiary education that is being introduced next year. It enables the new Tertiary Education Commission to ensure that sufficient training is being provided across the whole system to meet identified skill needs,” Steve Maharey said.

Additional funding may become available for priority programmes provided by PTEs because savings generated from those exiting the system or experiencing enrolment decline will be reinvested in the Fund.

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