The Government released a Cabinet paper outlining its proposal for the future structure of the vocational education system. It contained some options and consulted with people across all industries about them so it can make sure it chooses a structure that works best for all. The closing date was 12 September.
For those of you who provided feedback and submitted your feedback to the Government. Thank you. Our submission can be found here. Vocational Education and Training System submission – Waihanga Ara Rau
We encourage individual submissions and will be regularly adding resources to this page to help you in this.
Download and email
Download and fill out the submission template, and email it to [email protected]
Online submission
Fill out and deliver your submission online at: Vocational Education and Training Reforms consultation(external link)
Email
Email your feedback directly to [email protected].
In response to your requests for help with submissions on the proposed options for a new vocational education system, we have drafted a response template for you to use.
The content in the template has been developed based on your feedback about the key priorities and concerns for the construction and infrastructure sector. The document reflects the main themes and ideas we heard but it is likely we have not covered everything. If we have missed something or you have any questions about this template, please let me know immediately.
The template is here: https://www.waihangaararau.nz/submission-support/
We wanted to provide you with as much helpful information as possible, so you can copy, paste, and adapt anything from this document as you see fit.
We’ll discuss the implications of each option from an industry perspective and provide an opportunity to kick off discussions around this.
We strongly recommend reading the Ministry of Education Regulatory Impact Statement which assesses the implications of various options and suggests alternatives for the future vocational education system.
We recently held webinars for industry and education providers about this consultation, and we are pleased to share a summary of our thoughts after our discussions with attendees.
The Government no longer has a priority to centralise vocational training and education and wants to restore regional decision-making for local institutions to ensure they can better respond to the education needs of their communities, bring a sharper focus on what industry needs, and make sure the system is financially viable.
The vocational education and training system must meet the needs of learners and employers who train, give industries a strong voice and be locally responsive. Vocational education and training are major contributors to the economic prosperity of the construction and infrastructure sector and New Zealand. This is a crucial opportunity for you and others in construction and infrastructure to heavily influence workplace training and career progression in construction and infrastructure for years to come.
We encourage attendance at regional meetings being organised by TEC & MOE, as regional perspectives are really important.
Meetings will be held both online and in-person.
Visit TEC’s website for the dates and locations of meetings, they’ll be updating this page regularly as more events are organised.
We have a series of engagements planned, including meetings and workshops to gather your perspectives to help shape our joint sector submission response.
This webpage will soon contain essential details that you need to contribute to our joint submission, gather perspectives from the sector, and find out which option we believe is preferable for industry. We will then work together on our joint submission for those who want to be included.
Throughout the consultation period, we’ll provide you with updates through our LinkedIn company page, e-newsletters and on this webpage. We’ll include information about the implications of each option and provide resources you can use to develop a submission.
Find out more information about the proposals and learn about public information sessions the Ministry of Education (MOE) is hosting soon, which you can attend online or in person.
Read the information published by the Tertiary Education Commission about this.
Independent polytechnics. Some in a federated structure.
Re-establish polytechnics that can show a pathway to financial and educational sustainability.
Establish a federated model for the less financially viable polytechnics anchored by the Open Polytechnic, including some consideration of shared services and shared delivery.
OPTION A: Set up 6-8 Industry Training Boards, similar to previous ITOs.
Established by the Minister with statutory functions Reduced scope and functions. Workforce planning, standard setting, qualification development and arranging training Clear expectations regarding standard-setting functions Boards will be mainly made up of industry. Two people from Government. Letter of expectations from the Minister.
OPTION B: Retaining WDCs on a reduced scale and work-based training moves to providers/PTEs
Standalone 6-8 industry bodies – essentially scaled-down WDCs. Reduced functions. They will undertake independent standard-setting and workforce forecasting. Governance by industry and government members. Work-based learning (i.e., BCITO) would be broken up. The arranging training function to be undertaken by providers/PTEs
Moving to increase funding for providers (Polytechnics and PTEs) from 1 January 2025. The strategic component will be disestablished to fund a 10% increase for providers and a 100% increase for extramural.
Aim to restore funding as in the previous system (with more funding for providers).
Establish funding arrangements to encourage Polytechnics to work with local employers to bring international students into each region.
Consider different types of funding (ie, non-volume-based vs. volume-based funding).
After the consultation period closes, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and MOE will analyse all feedback. In November, MOE will present feedback and recommendations to Cabinet, which will then make its decision before the end of this year.
Regardless of this consultation process, we’ll continue to focus on delivering to your needs and not be distracted by other organisations’ consultations or actions. We remain industry-focused and ensure that the industry’s voice is heard in this review of vocational education and training.
