News 7/4 – ITO audits, health and safety training, and UCOL fees

April 7th 2010 at 8:14am, By Dave Guerin

ITO Audits Radio NZ ran a story (2:41) on proposed ITO audits on Checkpoint yesterday, with Erica Cumming (HITO CEO and ITF Board member) and Liz Valintine (ATTTO CEO) and Steven Joyce (Minister for Tertiary Education) all saying it needs to be kept in perspective.
Health and Safety Training Cuts Radio NZ reported yesterday on Morning Report Business NZ and the Council of Trade Unions are both concerned about funding being cut for health and safety training, but the Minister says that the government won’t pay for legal compliance obligations of firms.
Urban Design Unitec and University of Auckland architecture students, organised by local MP David Shearer, are looking at how to soften the community impacts of the new motorway to run past Unitec.
UCOL Fees Following the lead of some universities, UCOL has bumped up its student services fee to $300, and will add $100 in 2011 and 2012. While it is ostensibly to cover funding cuts, this tactic also seems to do an end run around fee maxima policy. The Manawatu Standard criticises the introduction of the levy in an editorial.