Announced on Friday 2/8 the members of the establishment board for the new entity – provisionally named – NZ Technology and skills Institute. The board will be based in Christchurch. The board is made up of a range of industry, ITP / ITO board members and tertiary union representative.
The Tertiary Education union is positive, especially with one of the establishment board members being ex-TEU President, Dr. Sandra Grey. The focus is on maintaining staff and student consultation to the establishment of and transition into the new entity.
Students union back up the above. In all, signalling a shift away from the market driven neo-liberal policies and into a more consultative approach.
There is a more guarded response from main union representing Service andFood workers, flight attendants and related services and the engineering, printing and manufacturing industries. Tone still supportive.
ITPs responses have been positive with provisos. For example from Ara Institute of Canterbury CE - positive with proviso on the importance of how and who is appointed to the establishment board for the ‘one entity’ ITP and clarification on funding. Eastern Institute of Technology reflect similar views.
ITOs are more mellow as their organisations are the most affected by the reforms. Competenz provides overviews for their stakeholders and a statement from their CE - expressing disappointment but assuring their employers and apprentices / trainees of a planned transition.
Employers’ and manufacturers’ association supports with the
need to ensure confidence is maintained in the capabilities of ITPs and the
proposed Workforce Development Councils (WDC) – replacing ITOs – to deliver on
promises for consultative partnerships.
So overall, no surprises. As always, the devil will be in the detail and how the transition pans out. On the ground, we will expect changes, not all positive but most will hopefully contribute to a more effective VET system for New Zealanders.
No comments:
Post a Comment