NZITP response to proposed reform of the ITP sector

The CEO’s of the New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (NZITP) support the motivation for the Government’s proposal for major reform of the sector and welcome Minister Hipkins’ commitment to continue consultation and listen to the sector.

NZITP Independent Chair Charles Finny said that the ITP’s CEO’s fundamentally agree that Government and wider society should be increasing the emphasis on vocational training to reflect the needs of industry and the rapidly changing modern workplace.

“We agree it is time for a step change for the vocational education sector and welcome the acceptance in the Government’s proposals that the sector is important for school leavers and for everyone in employment for the length of their careers. We strongly endorse the goal of expanded course delivery in more locations around the country and the proposal for a unified educational funding system,” he said.

Mr Finny said that the ITP sector also welcomes the redefined roles of education providers and industry training organisations, and in particular the proposal to deliver training through education providers. It is pleased also that there are no proposed changes to degree delivery.

“However the proposal to establish a single New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is a bold one and was not the option that the sector had been working towards in last year’s Roadmap exercise. The proposal has major implications for our sector, our towns and cities, and for our communities, regions and for Iwi. We will need to consider this carefully and to work through the detail of what is being proposed by Government,” he said.

The ITP CEO’s caution that it will be critical that the new system ensures the closest possible linkages with businesses throughout the country and that it is flexible enough to respond quickly to individual regional, community and Iwi needs.

NZITP would like to provide an assurance to existing students and those proposing to enroll from New Zealand or from offshore that they will continue to receive the highest quality vocational training and education from the existing ITPs while this proposal is being worked through. It should not in any way affect a decision to enroll in 2019 or 2020.

Individual institutions will be consulting closely with staff and unions about the implications of the Government’s proposals.

ITPNZ appreciates the focus on solutions for the sector and looks forward to working closely with the Minister and officials over the coming weeks to ensure that the sector delivers a world class system of vocational education and training available for students from New Zealand and around the world.

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