SPF successes strengthen PTE portfolio

Monday 13 December 2004

SPF successes strengthen PTE portfolio

Programmes just approved under the Tertiary Education Commission’s (TEC) Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) will help strengthen the overall portfolio of courses provided nationally, according to the TEC’s General Manager Ann Clark.

The SPF is intended to promote innovation within tertiary education designed to achieve the goals of and support the strategies within the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) and Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP).

“As well as offering a chance for existing Private Training Establishments (PTEs) already providing excellent education to introduce innovative new courses, it also enables new entrants to gain public funding,” Ann Clark says.

She said PTEs are an integral and valuable part of the tertiary education sector and the SPF is designed to help them work in partnership with Government to meet key learning priorities.

The TEC has just advised applicants of the outcomes of the 2005 funding round, which saw $9.8 million allocated to 87 programmes. There was $23.8 million available. Of the 537 applications, 107 were found to be ineligible, leaving 480 to be assessed against the SPF criteria. In some cases the TEC has reduced the amount of funding asked for to better reflect the demand expected in 2005 for some courses.

While the sector would be disappointed that more applications were not approved, the SPF has a robust assessment process with clearly defined criteria and the TEC is confident that it has approved all eligible applications. The assessment process included peer reviews.

It is expected that the SPF will be replaced by another form of funding associated with Profiles from 2006 on that will provide greater flexibility.
Ann Clark said successful applicants were those who could demonstrate they clearly met the criteria as well as sufficient alignment with the TES and the STEP.

The criteria for success included alignment with regional needs and links to regional development, as well as good linkages with other providers and industry. Applications were also assessed on student achievement levels, including progress into higher levels of education or training, as well as employment.

Ann Clark said unsuccessful applicants could request a review, to be carried out in January. Review requests had to be submitted by 24 December and details on how to apply were available on the TEC website, www.tec.govt.nz.

Appendix 1: Criteria used to assess SPF applications
- Alignment with education and training needs of the region
- Links to regional development activity (or identified national skill or industry need)
- Stair casing being enabled from lower levels to higher levels or education and training
- New or improved linkages with other providers
- New or improved linkages with industry
- Regional or national provision being complemented
- Expected student achievement, including progress into higher levels of education
- Expected achievement by Maori and Pacific students
- Expected student destinations, including employment

ENDS

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