Universities Welcome Future Directions

Media Release 4 April 2006

Universities Welcome Future Directions Announcement

Universities have welcomed today’s announcement by Tertiary Education Minister Dr Michael Cullen on future funding directions as a positive step towards differentiating the tertiary education sector on the basis of distinctive contributions.

NZ Vice-Chancellors’ Committee chair Professor Roy Sharp says the universities’ distinctive contribution to the tertiary education system is research-led degree teaching, postgraduate provision and research itself.

As the representative body for the country’s eight universities, the NZVCC views the move to multi-year funding for tertiary education as a positive development, giving institutions more predictability for their planning on a year-to-year basis.

“The NZVCC agrees with the minister on the need to keep compliance costs in any changed funding formula to a minimum. Universities are also pleased to see a continued endorsement of open access to tertiary education,” Professor Sharp says.

“The course set for the future direction of tertiary education in New Zealand by today’s announcement represents a major step forward and universities are keen to enter dialogue on how they should be funded so their distinctive and important contributions to national economic and social goals are maximised.”

ENDS

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