What our industries are looking for from programmes and providers

For December 2022, TEC sought ‘theme’ advice from WDCs to inform the broader priorities for investment in tertiary education and inclusion in Plan Guidance 2024. The broader priorities needed to be applicable across the tertiary sector and, as such, were not industry specific.

We have further refined our December advice and set out here our guidance on the things our industries expect TEC to take into account when assessing programmes for funding.

Our industries are looking for programmes that:
  • incorporate mātauranga Māori (Muka Tangata has published Te Whakatōnga which outlines, identifies and recommends a bespoke approach to deliberately incorporating mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori values, including embedding pastoral care
  • deliver for Māori and underserved learners
  • recognise workplace learning as the delivery mode of choice for ‘be’ and ‘do’ skills in vocational programmes and micro-credentials at levels 2-4 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
  • meet the seasonality requirements of industries
  • are flexible in their mix of provision, including meeting the needs of rural/geographically dispersed learners and the changing circumstances of the learner – for example, a learner who loses their job may go into full time education, or vice versa, and continue their programme
  • do not require learners to repeat unnecessary training
  • prioritise pastoral care for learners with programmes that is appropriate to the modes of delivery
  • use skill standards in programmes when they become available and use unit standards in new programmes where they are available for at least the work-based assessment components
  • use assessment methods that recognise the challenges of working and learning at the same time and prioritises utilising all forms of evidence - for example, naturally occurring evidence, workplace documents, videos, photographs, and verification/attestation.

The expectation of Muka Tangata is that providers will engage early with us when planning to develop and revise programmes, so that we can provide support and advice around industry/sector/Muka Tangata needs.

Support the cross-sector micro-credentials being developed by Muka Tangata

From our workforce development plans we have identified specific and technical skills which would benefit the entire sector. We are developing micro-credentials in the following areas:

  • Critical decision making and agritech
  • Irrigation operation and troubleshooting
  • Freshwater management and regulation
  • Environmental regulations
  • Biosecurity
Increase workforce diversity – supporting programmes that improve the participation of women

Across the food and fibre sector women are underrepresented in the workforce. We have noted in our industry-specific advice the industries that have particularly low participation, but all industries (bar one, Veterinary Services) could improve.

Increase workforce diversity – supporting programmes that improve the participation of people with disabilities (tangata whaikaha)

Across all sectors, not just food and fibre, people with disabilities are underrepresented. We note and support that this group is already a focus for TEC.