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Project To Boost Quality Of Teaching

Media Release 12 th September 2007

Project To Boost Quality Of Teaching

Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence which was set up as part of a $20 million Government initiative to boost the quality of teaching in the post-school education sector, has just announced the commissioning of its first project through its regional project funding scheme.

Education researcher, Dr Amanda Gilbert, will undertake a research project with the BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) to evaluate whether their widely used self-paced learning package is providing the best possible educational outcomes for their learners.

BCITO Chief Executive, Ruma Karaitiana, said, “our self-paced learning package is widely used, well-received and appears to have been resulting in appropriate learning outcomes for a number of years but it is exciting to be able to formally evaluate how effective it is in facilitating the learning process”.

He said that it was also an opportunity to consider the context in which the resources are being used and what further enhancements can be made to the BCITO model to ensure the needs of the learner are met in the most effective manner.

“This is one of a number of initiatives the BCITO has underway to improve the quality of what we do,” said Mr Karaitiana, “we are really chuffed that the first Ako Aotearoa project off the blocks is an ITO project.”

Peter Coolbear, Director of Ako Aotearoa, comments: “We are delighted that this project with the BCITO is the first project to be funded by Ako Aotearoa.” Our brief is to work with organisations right across the tertiary sector. Workplace learning is a critical part of tertiary education and training in New Zealand and we very much look forward to working in partnership with the ITOs.”

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ENDS.About BCITO (Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation [BCITO] is the industry owned and government appointed body responsible for setting the standards in training in the building and construction industry. Its role is to provide advice and assistance to people wanting to become qualified in the building and construction industry.

The organisation was set up following the changing of the Apprenticeship Act to the Industry Training Act in 1992. It is the national body – recognised by the Government and appointed by the industry – to set the standards for qualifications and training for the sectors the ITO covers (carpentry, cement & concrete, floor & wall tiling, frame and truss manufacturing, interior systems, proprietary plaster cladding systems, solid plastering, and ‘Health and Safety’). The BCITO has over 9600 trainees registered nationally working for more than 4500 employers.

Industry Training Industry training is New Zealand’s leading workplace learning programme. It develops people’s skills and qualifications while they work, and sharpens business competitive edge.

How industry training works Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), advise on training, set standards, help arrange formal training, provide packages and help trainees register into the correct NZQA-recognised qualifications.

The ITO does as much of the paperwork and detailed planning as possible. Training is either on-the-job, or off-the-job (for instance at a polytechnic), or a combination of.the two. Learning is assessed by an approved staff member, an external assessor, or a tertiary education provider—or a combination of all three.

The BCITO visits the trainee between two and four times a year to check the quality of the training and ensure that there are no problems.

Modern Apprentice Modern Apprenticeships train young people aged between 16 and 21 years for a career with qualifications. (Provision may be made for those over the age of 21 seeking a career change.)


BCITO apprenticeships The average carpentry apprenticeship takes 3½ to 4 years The average ‘specialist trade’ qualification takes 1½ years

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