Polytechnics receive funding to support regional growth

The Minister for Regional and Industry Development, Jim Anderton and Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education), Steve Maharey today announced the results of the third round of funding under the Polytechnic Regional Development Fund.

"The level of interest among polytechnics and institutes of technology in addressing local skill and development priorities remains strong with nine polytechnics having had funding approved this round for a wide variety of initiatives," said Jim Anderton

Whitireia Polytechnic, WELTEC, Open Polytechnic, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Telford Rural Polytechnic and Southern Institute of Technology will receive funding totalling $1,133,266.

"This commitment by polytechnics and institutes of technology shows that they are keen to ensure they meet the long term needs of industries in their regions and play a key role in regional economic development," said Steve Maharey.

The fund is designed to enable and encourage polytechnics to collaborate with local industry and enterprise to develop skills-related initiatives that will support regional economic development.

Two million in 2002/2003 and in 2003/04 and $1 million for 2004/05 has been allocated to the fund.

The maximum grant for any one application is $300,000 (GST inclusive).

All applications were considered by the Regional Partnerships Programme Assessment Panel which is chaired by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and includes representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Tertiary Education Commission, Te Puni Kokiri and two independent members.

Two funding rounds occurred in the 2002/2003 financial year with $1,304,189 approved for nine polytechnics in November 2002 and $702,000 approved for seven polytechnics in May 2003.

REGIONAL DETAILS

Polytechnic Regional Development Fund approvals:

Whitireia (Porirua)
$90,500 for a ‘Development Lab’ to assist ICT students into employment initiative of 2003 that encompasses the appointment of a project manager to manage a mentoring programme.

WELTEC (Wellington)
$240,000 to assist Wellington and Auckland small and medium enterprises with research and development projects.

Funding is to be used specifically for:
-The establishment of formal processes for management of industry specific research projects
-Appointment of a full-time national co-ordinator
-Appointment of a part-time coordinator within each polytechnic
-Production of marketing/communications material
-Development of skills database

Open Polytechnic
$83,000 to complete the first four milestones identified in the project plan to support the NZ Earthquake Engineering industry and others to deliver practical and economic solutions to reduce the consequences of earthquakes on communities, determine educational and training needs to support the growing industry in NZ.

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
$295,916 to fit out the Wine Centre of Excellence research, wine analysis and laboratory with specialist scientific equipment.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic
$155,000 to establish on Tai Poutini/West Coast one or more commercially viable horticultural demonstration plots, with associated education training and grower support infrastructure.

Telford Rural Polytechnic
$31,750 to address the rural communities understanding of soil vulnerability through the development and delivery of short courses in soil management.

$28,100 to address community understanding of how to select forage plants to optimise animal production, through the development of teaching resources specific to Telford and the Clutha/Otago/Southland districts.

Southern Institute of Technology
$209,000 to address the training needs of Southland’s engineering industry and to enhance the availability of more and highly skilled and qualified staff to the regions engineering industry.