Search

The latest report on enrolment data from the Ministry of Education shows more New Zealand tertiary students are studying at higher levels, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

The report, Tertiary Education Enrolments 2012, shows a continuing increase in the number of students enrolling in degree and higher qualifications, particularly amongst students aged 18 to 24 years old.
​
In 2012, there were 3,700 more bachelors degree enrolments by domestic students aged 18 to 24 than in 2010 – an increase of 4.3 per cent.

The Government has approved a capital injection of $18.9 million to the Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology (CPIT) to enable it to further expand its trades training capacity as part of its campus rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes.

“The Government’s support means that CPIT will be able to expand its Sullivan Avenue facilities to meet further increases in trades training volumes,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Launch of Draft Tertiary Education Strategy and proposed changes to university and wānanga governance

Introduction
Can I thank Pat and Victoria University for hosting me here today.

Today I would like to outline the government’s new Tertiary Education Strategy.

It will chart the direction for the tertiary sector over the next five years, a direction that will ensure we stay up with the world’s best, and deliver on the needs of our students in the 21st century.

Proposed changes to university councils will help New Zealand universities remain internationally competitive, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

“New Zealand universities have been performing very well in a world context, with all eight of our universities now listed in the Top 500 in the world", Mr Joyce says.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today released the Draft Tertiary Education Strategy (2014-2019) that seeks to improve the way tertiary education supports achievement, industry, innovation, and economic growth.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are consulting with the education and business sectors on the draft strategy, which will set the direction of tertiary education for the next five years.

The New Zealand tertiary education system delivered more graduates and qualifications than ever before in 2012, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Profile & Trends 2012, released today by the Ministry of Education, shows that 162,000 qualifications were completed in the New Zealand tertiary education system last year.

The number of qualifications completed by domestic students increased by 3.2 per cent from 2011 to 2012, with degree and higher qualifications up by 4 per cent.

Two appointments to the Education New Zealand board have been announced today by Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

Dr Neil Barns has been reappointed as a member of the Board for a three-year term and Frances Valintine has been appointed as a board member to replace departing member Jenny Alford. 

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced two appointments to the Tertiary Education Commission board.

Business New Zealand Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly and businesswoman Vanessa Stoddart have been appointed as members of the Tertiary Education Commission.

“Mr O’Reilly and Ms Stoddart bring substantial leadership, governance and business experience to their roles on the Tertiary Education Commission board," Mr Joyce says. 

The value of international education to the New Zealand economy continues to grow with a new report released today showing it contributed $2.6 billion and 28,000 jobs in 2012/13.

The Economic Impact of International Education 2012/13 report by Infometrics and commissioned by Education New Zealand, shows the valuation of international students studying in New Zealand was $2.5 billion and the sale and delivery of New Zealand’s education services and products offshore was $104 million.

The Industry Training and Apprenticeships Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament today, is a vital part of the Government’s investment in industry training, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

“In the 10 years to 2010 Government funding for Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) almost trebled. Unfortunately funding increases were not matched with sufficient accountability for the funding,” Mr Joyce says.

Requests for Proposals are being sought for the expansion of the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative from the current 600 places to 3000 places.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Tariana Turia are leading the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative, which supports 18 to 34-year-olds to gain trades qualifications and apprenticeships, with the goal of a level four trade qualification and employment.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today opened the 2013 New Zealand Education Fair in Seoul as part of his four-day visit to Korea to boost education ties between the two countries.

More than 30 New Zealand institutions from all areas of the education sector are represented at the two-day education fair being held at Seoul’s COEX Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Latest QS World University Rankings out today underscore the importance of a strategic approach to investment by New Zealand universities in an increasingly competitive global environment, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

“The 2013/14 rankings show a continued strong performance with all eight of New Zealand’s universities appearing in the Top 500 in the World for the first time,” Mr Joyce says.
“However, while some of our universities have had their scores improve; their rankings have declined.

International Education will be a key focus of discussions when Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce visits Japan and Korea next week.

The Minister leaves tomorrow to meet with Japanese and South Korean Government ministers and officials and attend New Zealand education events in both countries.

Introduction

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Thank you for having me at the NZAPEP Conference. It’s good to be here again.

I’d like to acknowledge the NZAPEP Board, the Chair Christine Clark, and the Deputy Chair Margie Sorenson.

All foundation education (Level 1 and 2 courses) will be fees-free for 20-24 year-olds from 2014, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

At the same time the government will extend the Youth Guarantee Scheme to 18 and 19 year-olds, meaning that all New Zealanders below the age of 25 will be able to access fees-free level 1 and 2 education courses.

The Government’s Youth Guarantee scheme will be expanded to 18 and 19 year olds from 1 January 2014, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

The government established the Youth Guarantee scheme in 2008 for students who find the traditional classroom environment challenging and are at risk of dropping out of school.

The Foundation-Focused Training Opportunities (FFTO) programme is to be replaced from 1 January 2014 with an expanded range of more effective education and training programmes to help beneficiaries and young people get into work, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced today.

FFTO programmes consist of 26-week foundation-level training courses for beneficiaries funded by Vote Social Development and administered by the Tertiary Education Commission.

FFTO will be replaced by the following:

More young people who have not achieved in the classroom are succeeding in tertiary education through the Youth Guarantee scheme, latest Tertiary Education Commission figures show. 

“Youth Guarantee is continuing to motivate young people who may find the classroom environment challenging and are at risk of dropping out of school,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Proposed changes to the Performance-Based Research Fund will save time and reduce compliance costs for researchers and institutions while continuing to reward research excellence, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Government is investing in stronger Centres of Research Excellence to boost innovation and research-led learning in New Zealand’s universities, Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

Additional funding in Budget 2013 of $9.5 million is being backed up by a clearer mission statement and stronger performance expectations for the centres.

“Centres of Research Excellence play an important and unique role in supporting world-class research, with positive economic and social and benefits to New Zealand,” Mr Joyce says.

The international education sector is showing further revenue growth, despite lower enrolments at Private Training Establishments (PTEs) contributing to a three per cent decline in overall enrolment numbers says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

Data released today in the International Education Snapshot report for 1 January to 30 April 2013 shows enrolments in Universities and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) increased by two per cent and three per cent respectively, while enrolments at PTEs declined 10 per cent year-on-year.

Labour market data out today continues a trend of growing employment as the economy recovers, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

Under the Household Labour Force Survey, employment growth was up by 0.4 per cent in the quarter and 0.7 per cent in the year to June; while unemployment rose 0.2 per cent in the quarter to 6.4 per cent.

The Quarterly Employment Survey, also released today, showed an extra 65,400 jobs in the economy over the last two years.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced appointments to seven tertiary education institution councils, which include nine new council members across university and wānanga councils and a new appointment to the Open Polytechnic council.

“I am pleased to welcome these high calibre council appointees into their new roles and to welcome the reappointment of a number of council members in recognition of the high-quality governance they have been providing to these institutions,” Mr Joyce says.