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Wellington, April 15, 2022
Providing an outstanding education and learning experience that develops highly skilled and culturally conscious global students sought by employers is the aim of a new International Education Strategy of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) or Te Pukenga.
Chief Executive Stephen Town said that the strategy is more than just bringing international students to New Zealand.
“It is about creating a high-value future for global students by providing excellent education outcomes, improving student experience and wellbeing and putting the learner at the centre of everything we do. We have a unique opportunity to move from a model of competition to an integrated and collaborative approach, with a single brand, tailored to international markets and a single strategy aligned with the government’s International Education Strategy,” he said.
The strategy has been led by Toi Ohomai Chief Executive and Te Pūkenga International Lead Dr Leon Fourie, who has worked closely with Education New Zealand, G2G and an International Working Group of International Directors and Chief Executives.
New pathway to global citizenship
Dr Fourie said that the strategy sets a new direction towards creating more pathways to global citizenship, diversifying markets and creating high value for learners, employers and the community.
“It gives us a roadmap to utilise the size, scale, skills and expertise of NZIST so that we can deliver world-class applied and vocational higher education and training to international students anywhere in the world and leverage our ability to successfully export our expertise in the design, development and delivery of education and training outcomes,” he said.
Dr Fourie said that he and his team will be developing new, innovative, targeted products and services; giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering to the expectations set by Te Tiriti partners and providing a unique bi-cultural experience for global students.
“We will be focusing on onshore and offshore, on regional development, workforce capability, working collaboratively with our government agencies, and creating significant value for Aotearoa New Zealand and New Zealanders,” he said.
Mr Town said that the network has pulled together, bringing their strengths into a collective approach and shared goals. It’s a huge win for the network to have valued experience and expertise from across the motu working so closely on this.
Key focus areas
The strategy has five key areas of focus: (a) creating and supporting skilled and culturally competent global students (b) adding significant value to the New Zealand community (c) aligning learning outcomes to the needs of employers (d) creating valuable strategic partnerships within and outside New Zealand (e) giving expression to our Te Tiriti relationship that exists between the Crown and Māori to improve outcomes for Māori through delivering partnership, protection, participation, and equity.
Transition Plan
A Transition Plan for 2022 involves multiple work streams that will be amongst other consider future arrangements for agent networks and agreements; how institutional partnerships and agreements will be managed; standardising fees, discounts and scholarships; and the development of an International Marketing Strategy and establishing its brand in the market.
Alongside this, an Implementation Plan will be developed, aligned with the NZIST Operating Model to give effect to the strategy over three horizons – 2023, 2026 and 2033.
Dr Fourie said that the key is that the Institute will be operating as a unified sector and that its strategy will be delivered through a cohesive network that enables consistency, accessibility, collaboration and equity.
About Te Pukenga NZIST
Te Pūkenga was established to meet the needs of learners and employers better by bringing together on-job, on-campus and online learning across Aotearoa New Zealand.
By January 1, 2023, the Institute will create a unified, sustainable public network of regionally accessible vocational and applied to learn.
