Fourth Report of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission - full report 2/58

Shaping the Funding Framework
Fourth Report
of ohe Tertiary Education Advisory Commission

Preface

The Role of the Tertiary Education Advisory
Commission

The Tertiary Education Advisory Commission¹ was established by the government in April 2000 to
devise a long-term strategic direction for the tertiary education system. The
overall aim of the strategy is to make New Zealand a world-leading knowledge
society by providing all New Zealanders with opportunities for lifelong
learning.

Its current members are:

• Russell Marshall (Chairperson)
• Jonathan Boston
• Shona Butterfield
• Hugh Fletcher
• Tony Hall
• Patricia Harris
• John Ruru
• Ivan Snook
• Linda Tuhiwai Smith.

An Integrated Set of Reports

Shaping the Funding Framework is the final of four reports the
Commission has published on the tertiary education system. The four reports form
an integrated set that provides a comprehensive strategic direction for tertiary
education in New Zealand.

Shaping a Shared Vision, the Commission's first report, set out the
new directions for the tertiary education system. It argued that the challenge
of ensuring access to lifelong learning in a knowledge society will require new
ways of organising, delivering, and recognising tertiary education and learning.

Shaping the System, the Commission's second report, mapped out the structures
and instruments that will bring about change. The report emphasised that, if New
Zealand is to be a knowledge society, the tertiary education system will require
mechanisms, policy instruments, and structures that will allow for more
effective engagement and steering of the system by the government and
stakeholders.

Shaping the Strategy, the Commission's third report, outlined the
strategy and priorities for the tertiary education system. It provided a
framework for a strategic approach to New Zealand's tertiary education system,
and the instruments fundamental to achieving this.

This final report builds on the earlier reports to establish a funding
framework that will support the development of a coherent and integrated, yet
flexible and responsive, tertiary education system. The funding framework
described in this report is designed to retain and build on the strengths of the
existing funding systems, and also to address their flaws.

In developing its proposals, the Commission was aware of the complexity of
the tertiary education system and the trade-offs that need to be made. It has
not been possible to achieve full unanimity, however. As a result, this report
contains a number of minority views from Commissioners. While these minority
views relate to particular issues, the Commission as a whole supports the
overall direction of the proposed funding framework. In general, the minority
views describe a different approach to achieving the same end.

At all times, the Commission's recommendations have been made with a view to
the long-term goal of ensuring that the tertiary education system is able to
operate in an efficient manner, while still delivering highquality tuition and
research.

The Commission would like to thank the Secretariat, past and present, for
their dedication and hard work in the preparation of the Commission's reports.

Footnote(s):

1

The term 'the Commission' is used to describe the Tertiary Education
Advisory Commission throughout this report; the acronym 'TEC' is used to
describe the Tertiary Education Commission.