The Tertiary Education Strategy Fact Sheet
Tertiary Education Commission Te Amorangi Mätauranga Matua
The Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) is a five-year blueprint for a more strategic, collaborative and integrated
tertiary education system that will inspire excellence, demand relevance and improve access to tertiary learning for all
New Zealanders.
The TES supports the Government’s vision for a New Zealand knowledge society, as: a birthplace of world-changing people
and ideas; a land where diversity is valued and reflected in our national identity; a great place to live, learn, work
and do business; and a place where people invest in the future.
The TES outlines how the tertiary education system will help give effect to the government’s vision and six national
goals of economic transformation, social development, Mäori development and advancement, environmental sustainability,
infrastructure development, and innovation.
The challenge for the tertiary education system is to raise the skill levels of all New Zealanders to ensure they are
adept at creating knowledge, transferring knowledge and applying that knowledge through all parts of the economy and
society.
The TES outlines six strategies related to the development of skilled and knowledgeable people, the creation of research
and scholarships and the organisational capability needed to support these goals:
Strategy 1 - Strengthen system capability and quality. National goals cannot be achieved unless the strategic capability
and robustness of the tertiary education system is enhanced.
Strategy 2 - Te rautaki mâtauranga Mâori – Contribute to the achievement of Mâori development aspirations. This strategy
recognises the unique position of Mâori as Treaty partners, and the huge significance that education has for Mâori
communities. It addresses issues relating to skill development, research and capability building.
Strategy 3 - Raise Foundation Skills so that all people can participate in a knowledge society. Improving foundation
skills (literacy, numeracy and other basic skills) will ensure that more New Zealanders are able to participate
effectively in the benefits of economic growth and national development.
Strategy 4 - Develop the skills New Zealanders need for a knowledge society. This strategy recognises the need for
high-level generic skills in much of the population, and more highly-specialist skills in areas of comparative advantage
for New Zealand to accelerate its transformation into a knowledge society.
Strategy 5 - Educate for Pacific peoples’ development and success. Pacific peoples represent a significant and rapidly
growing proportion of New Zealand’s population. This strategy addresses issues relating to Pacific peoples’ capability,
needs and skill development that will ensure their success and development.
Strategy 6 - Strengthen research, knowledge creation and uptake for our knowledge society. This strategy recognises that
research and innovation are key drivers of a modern economy.
View the Tertiary Education Strategy in full at www.tec.govt.nz