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Tertiary education institutions have continued the trend of year-on-year improvements to their educational, organisational and financial performance, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

The 2011 Tertiary Education Performance Report released today by the TEC reviews each tertiary institution’s performance in the 2011 year as well as how the sector is tracking to achieve the Government’s priorities for tertiary education.

Digital literacy will be included as an educational priority area within the $13.8 million funding for Adult and Community Education in schools next year Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

Its inclusion within the scope of Adult and Community Education in schools expands the potential for digital literacy within foundation education in New Zealand.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced three new appointments to the councils of Massey University, the University of Waikato and the Nelson and Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Michael Ahie is appointed to the Massey University Council, Ian Fitzgerald is appointed to the University of Waikato Council and Gabrielle Hervey will join the council of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the appointment of three new Crown company directors.

Lizzie Chambers and Dr Barry O’Neil will join the Board of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd (trading as Scion) and Phil Norman will Join the Board of the Research and Education Advanced Network NZ Ltd (REANNZ).

“The new directors bring a valuable range of scientific knowledge, commercial skills and governance experience to their roles on the Scion and REANNZ boards” Mr Joyce says. 

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced that degree-awarding institutions will now be able to provide 180 credit Master’s degrees.

“The introduction of the new Master’s Degree will allow students to complete the necessary credits typically between 12 to 18 months instead of in two years,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government has released its detailed action plan for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and acting Labour Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Building Natural Resources highlights how recommendations from the Green Growth Advisory Group are being integrated into the Government’s wider growth agenda, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Environment Minister Amy Adams say.

“The challenge for New Zealand – and frankly all countries – is how we can make the most of all our opportunities to achieve strong economic growth that delivers jobs alongside policies that improve the environment,” Mr Joyce says.

The latest Business Growth Agenda progress report, Building Natural Resources, sets out how New Zealand can build growth and jobs from sustainably using its natural resources, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building Natural Resources sets out the 49 initiatives the Government is taking to improve the way we use and manage our resources. It encourages businesses to find ways to become more innovative to get the best results for the economy and the environment.

A New Zealand-China joint declaration, which will boost science and technology links and co-operation between the two countries, has been signed in Wellington today.

The joint declaration, focussing on enhancing and supporting science and technology research co-operation, was signed by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Chinese Deputy-Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.

The signing was witnessed by visiting State Councillor Liu Yandong.

State Councillor Liu Yandong will visit New Zealand next week as a guest of the New Zealand Government – the first visit by a senior Communist Party figure since China’s November leadership transition.

State Councillor Liu is a senior leader in China’s 2012-2017 hierarchy. Her portfolios include education, science, screen and television, and culture.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says he will sign a joint declaration with State Councillor Liu on science and technology in Wellington on 10 December.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has highlighted 20 key projects in the Economic Recovery Programme for Greater Christchurch, which was launched today.

Developed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the programme lays out a roadmap for economic recovery in the region.

“This has been a thoroughly collaborative process between CERA and MBIE in partnership with local government and the business sector,” Mr Brownlee says.

People with degrees earn substantially more than those with no qualifications, the annual report on the performance of the tertiary education system shows.

Profile & Trends 2011, released today by the Education Ministry, shows that in 2011 people with a bachelor’s or higher qualification earned 65 per cent more than those without a qualification – up from 63 per cent in 2010.

The number of people aged 15 years and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification was 17 per cent in 2011 compared to 11 per cent in 2001.

This year’s Rutherford Foundation Trust Awards and James Cook Research Fellowships recipients have been announced today by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

The two grant schemes have combined Government funding of more than $1.7 million and are aimed at developing the skills of New Zealand scientists.

Three new members have been appointed to the Marsden Fund Council in an announcement today by Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce.

The researchers will take their place on the Council for three-years from December 2012 and each will convene one of the Marsden Fund Council’s panels. They are:

The Callaghan Innovation Bill, which establishes a new high-tech HQ for manufacturing and services firms, today passed its third and final reading in Parliament.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says Callaghan Innovation will be a one-stop shop offering firms the business innovation support they need to lift their international competitiveness and in turn boost New Zealand’s economic growth.

I move that the Callaghan Innovation Bill be now read a third time.

Mr Speaker, this is a special day in a special year for New Zealand science and innovation.

Applications have been invited for $52.8 million of Government research funding in the 2013 science investment round, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

Proposals are invited for science and research that will improve New Zealanders’ health and wellbeing with $52.8 million per annum available for new projects starting next year.

The latest Student Loan Scheme annual report shows an 11 per cent increase in repayments and a decrease in the overall cost of the scheme, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

These are some of the key findings of the report, which was tabled in Parliament today by the Minister.

“The Government remains committed to interest-free student loans, but it is important the scheme is affordable for students and taxpayers, and sustainable for the country,” Mr Joyce says.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the announcement that New Zealand will host the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.

The annual event, to be held in Auckland in June 2014, was announced by the International Rugby Board this morning.

Cabinet has made an agreement in principle to provide capital support to Canterbury’s three Tertiary Education Institutions for their earthquake rebuilding programme, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

“The University of Canterbury, Lincoln University and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology have all recently completed initial business cases for capital investment from the Crown as part of their earthquake rebuilding programme,” Mr Joyce says.

Fledgling New Zealand businesses will be able to secure their company name, domain name and trade mark from one search with a new product launched today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

ONECheck is an online search tool that delivers more efficient, user-friendly government online services to New Zealand businesses. Until now, people have had to search three different websites to check the availability of their new business name.

There will be 1000 more engineering places available at universities and institutes of technology in 2013, Tertiary Education Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

The Government is directly funding 700 extra places for engineering students, while institutions are re-prioritising a further 300 places to meet additional engineering demand Mr Joyce says.

“New Zealand has an undersupply of engineers. Historically the number we have been training is about half the OECD average,” Mr Joyce says.

The Canterbury Skills and Employment Hub is now open and available to help employers looking for workers for the Canterbury rebuild, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced today.

“The Hub is a business-friendly one-stop shop where employers can list vacancies and be matched up with jobseekers from Christchurch and elsewhere in New Zealand. It is aimed at ensuring employers can easily get the staff they need so there are no roadblocks to the rebuild,” Mr Joyce says.