Our submission has been created through our engagement with employers, industry leaders and education providers to determine what their priorities are in relation to VET, what is working well, areas for improvement, and to gather feedback on these proposals.
We agree that the Government needs to hear directly from the industry and many employers and industries in the sector are making their own submissions.
Our submission reflects the themes gathered from the sector as well as our own analysis about the requirements for a well-functioning VET system that delivers for the sector, followed by answers to a selection of the consultation questions.
We understand that financial viability of the polytechnics is a pressing concern for the Government. However, the proposed reforms are unlikely to support the construction and infrastructure sector’s needs.
The construction and infrastructure sector have told us clearly that the VET sector must provide:
The sector values both the core standard-setting and quality assurance functions that Waihanga Ara Rau provides. Additionally, system-level advice and support, providing an industry voice into VET investment, and workforce planning are also highly valued.
To support the retention of all these functions for industry, Waihanga Ara Rau prefers Option 2B, but this proposal is not fit-for-purpose in its current form and does not maximise the potential value of these new standalone bodies. We propose a 2B ‘Plus’ option which has additional functions for the new standalone bodies including:
We further propose that for Option 2B ‘Plus’ these new standalone entities would be funded through a combination of non-volume based funding and alternative revenue streams.
We also recommend a more comprehensive review of sector funding to achieve sustainable financial viability for the vocational education and training system. This must be underpinned by a clear vision for vocational education and training in Aotearoa New Zealand.
