13 March 2006

Multinational forum will help tertiary policy debate

Leading tertiary education experts from six countries will be welcomed to New Zealand this week by Minister for Tertiary Education Dr Michael Cullen.
They are in Wellington for a three-day forum from 15 to 17 March 2006 to discuss current trends and issues, such as how to promote life-long learning, and what the balance between government, learner and employer funding for tertiary education should be.

"The forum is well-timed, given the progress that New Zealand is making with its tertiary education system and the thinking going on at the moment about the sector’s future," said Dr Cullen.
"The forum is a great opportunity for the sharing of experience and ideas. I am confident the outcomes of discussion will contribute towards ensuring tertiary education policy development across the world is well-informed, and delivers against different governments’ objectives for economic, environmental and social development.”

The forum, held at Te Papa Tongarewa, is being hosted by New Zealand's Tertiary Education Commission. It has attracted senior managers from public funding agencies, government policy departments and educational institutions from the USA, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Canada, as well as New Zealand.

Note

Day three of the forum is open to media and the sessions will cover:

- future funding models;
- monitoring performance including quality;
- approaches to student contribution;
- student support, loans and allowances, and addressing equity of access.

Speakers at the forum are happy to talk to media on day three.

Media interested in talking to any of the speakers listed below should contact

TEC Communications Advisor Katrin Mlakar on 04 462 5232 or katrin.mlakar@tec.govt.nz
Steve Egan, Acting Chief Executive of Higher Education Funding Council for England
Steve Egan has been Acting Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) since 1 February 2006.

In HEFCE Steve has a leading role in promoting equality, diversity, and sustainable development, and in ensuring that the £6 billion of public money routed through HEFCE is properly accounted for and well spent. He is a keen advocate of better regulation and has overseen significant reductions in the accountability burden on the higher education sector.

Roger McClure, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council

Roger McClure has been Chief Executive of the recently merged Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council since March 2002. The Council distributes some £1.5 billion of public funding annually to 43 colleges and 20 higher education institutions to provide teaching and research.

The other functions of the Council include promoting quality, partnership and collaboration; providing Scottish Ministers with information and advice; and monitoring the financial health of the further and higher education sectors.

David Ward, President of the American Council on Education

A leading spokesperson for American higher education, David Ward became the president of the American Council on Education (ACE) in 2001. Under his leadership, ACE has developed a strategic plan that has strengthened the Council's role as the major coordinating agent for higher education.
Paul E Lingenfelter, President of the State Higher Education Executive Officers in the USA

Paul E Lingenfelter has been President of the American national organisation of State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) since June 2000. His work at SHEEO has focused on increasing successful participation in higher education, including strengthening student preparation, improving the quality of teaching, developing accountability systems for improved performance, improving mechanisms for developing state higher education policy, and developing data systems and financial policies for educational improvement.

Tom Boland, Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Authority in Ireland
Tom Boland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), a post he was appointed to in January 2004. The HEA is the statutory policy body for higher education and research in Ireland, and the funding agency for the Irish universities.

ENDS

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