Fourth Report of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission - full report 8/58

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

Recommendations (Cont...)

Chapter 13: Responsiveness to Maori

Recommendation 61.

The Commission recommends that, in accordance with the intention to uncap
foundation education, priority be given to develop the capacity to support the
literacy and education needs of Maori.

Recommendation 62.

The Commission recommends that, in their charters and profiles, providers be
required to specify:

• the initiatives they will use to support Maori learners and develop Maori
  capability and capacity; and
• the performance indicators to be used for measuring their achievement of
  this.

The Commission further recommends that, in applying the desirability test to
a programme or activity, the TEC take into account the contribution (specified
in the provider's charter and profile) that the programme or activity makes to
enhancing participation and achievement by Maori learners.

Recommendation 63.

The Commission recommends that financial penalties be imposed on providers
that cannot demonstrate they are meeting the needs of their Maori learners as
specified in their charters and profiles and that this be done by withholding a
proportion of their tuition funding.

Recommendation 64.

The Commission recommends that, in the short term, funding re-allocated from
the existing Maori Special Supplementary Grants be ring-fenced for equity
purposes within the Strategic Development Fund.

Recommendation 65.

The Commission recommends that if no institution achieves a high
Performance-Based Research Fund ranking for research performance in Maori
issues, then priority be given by the TEC for development of a Model A
Centre/Network of Research Excellence in this field.

Chapter 14: Responsiveness to Pacific Peoples

Recommendation 66.

The Commission recommends that the government give priority to developing a
new institutional form for Pacific peoples within the tertiary education system
and that the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and the Ministry of Education
work collaboratively in relation to this issue.

Recommendation 67.

The Commission recommends that, in the short term, funding be re-allocated
from the existing Pacific Special Supplementary Grant and be ring-fenced for
equity purposes within the Strategic Development Fund.

Recommendation 68.

The Commission recommends that, in accordance with the intention to uncap
foundation education, priority be given to develop the capacity to support the
literacy and education needs of Pacific peoples.

Recommendation 69.

The Commission recommends that, in their charters and profiles, providers be
required to specify:

• the initiatives they will use to support Pacific learners and develop
  Pacific capability and capacity; and
• the performance indicators to be used for measuring their achievement of
  this.

The Commission further recommends that, in applying the desirability test to
a programme or activity, the TEC take into account the contribution (specified
in the provider's charter and profile) that the programme or activity makes to
enhancing participation and achievement by Pacific learners.

Recommendation 70.

The Commission recommends that financial penalties be imposed on providers
that cannot demonstrate they are meeting the needs of their Pacific learners as
specified in their charters and profiles, and that this be done by withholding a
proportion of their tuition funding.

Recommendation 71.

The Commission recommends that the TEC, as a priority, work to develop
research capacity in relation to Pacific studies and continues to do so until a
provider or providers rank sufficiently highly using the Performance-Based
Research Fund assessment.

Chapter 15: Further issues

Recommendation 72.

The Commission recommends that the TEC establish a working party to review
governance structures taking into account the important role that governance has
in a devolved tertiary education system.

Recommendation 73.

The Commission recommends that the current legal limit on tax deductibility
and tax rebates for financial donations to not-for-profit Tertiary Education
Providers be increased.

Recommendation 74.

The Commission recommends that the relevant bodies be encouraged to ensure
that under-graduate degrees include components of general (liberal) education as
the basis of lifelong learning and the preservation of a national culture.

Recommendation 75.

The Commission recommends that high priority be given to improving
information to learners and prospective learners.

The Commission further recommends that a working party to examine improving
information to learners, be established. The working party could consider
evaluating interactive careers information provided in a range of media and
languages, including Te Reo Maori, and Pacific languages.

Chapter 16: The New Funding Framework - Summary
and Implications

Recommendation 76.

The Commission recommends that the new funding framework be reviewed five
years after full implementation, to assess whether the Commission's goals and
priorities for the tertiary education system are being achieved. Particular
attention should be given to the following:

• the balance of funding between tuition and research;
• the transaction costs of the system;
• the adequacy of funding;
• the costs to learners;
• the implementation of the desirability test and Priority Index;
• the effects on providers; and
• the predictability of funding.

Recommendation 77.

The Commission recommends that the new funding framework be phased in to
facilitate a timely and smooth transition process. The Strategic Development
Fund could be used as a means of mitigating short-term adjustment costs and
impacts.