TEC allocates polytechnics $6 million

16 January 2006

TEC allocates polytechnics $6 million to enhance business relationships

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has allocated $6 million to the country’s Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) to help them build closer ties with business.

The ITP Business Links Fund has been set up to help polytechnics understand what businesses need so they can tailor their courses to meet those needs.

Improving the relevance of tertiary education for students and employers is a major priority for the TEC.

This allocation of Business Links funding is the second of a four year funding round.

“The TEC was impressed with the high calibre of most of the projects in this funding round,” TEC Manager National Team Liaison and Development Ian Elliott said.

“We agreed to fund 16 ITPs on the basis of their initial applications.

“We are working with another four - Telford Rural Polytechnic, Unitec, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and Northland Polytechnic to ensure their projects align with the aims of the fund. Funding for these ITPs is conditional on them meeting this requirement.

“Instead of declining funding outright, we are giving them this opportunity because we do not want them to lose the progress they made last year,” Ian Elliott said.

The maximum allocation is $400,000 while the minimum is $100,000.

ENDS

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