Archive for the ‘Quality Assurance’ Category

The Bologna Process is an EU initiative that is basically designed to align degree structures across the EU (and the wider world – NZ’s relationship is covered here). The EU is running a Ministerial Anniversary Conference in Vienna this week “to honour and to assess the achievements of common action and its contribution to enhancing [...]

Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic are considering merging in 2011, according to an ODT story today. Telford spokespeople have referred to cuts in funding for short courses as a driver, along with the potential for lower running costs. The two institutions both operate in the primary sector but run complementary courses.
Tertiary reforms

Steven Joyce and [...]

Steven Joyce, Minister of Tertiary Education, made announcements yesterday that tertiary tuition funding will be linked to performance (5-10% will be at risk), confirmed decisions about the targeted review of qualifications and repeated recent musings about limiting student loan access. He also made his first major speech. I commented yesterday on announcements. Reaction to the Minister has been swift!

The [...]

Steven Joyce, Minister of Tertiary Education, has made announcements today that tertiary tuition funding will be linked to performance and confirmed decisions about the targeted review of qualifications. More importantly, he made a big speech.
The Speech
Joyce’s speech gives a clear sense of where he is coming from and how he will operate – that’s important [...]

The NZ Herald waded into tertiary education today, supporting Steven Joyce’s suggestion to limit student loans according to academic performance and the University of Auckland’s proposal to limit university access as well (and use extra money to increase subsidies). There was a related Radio NZ discussion on this last week that covered NZQA’s upcoming review of university [...]

Waynne Smith’s post on ITO issues yesterday raised some good issues and so have the comments – check it out if you haven’t already.

CRI Taskforce A big report was released yesterday reviewing Crown Research Institutes. Responses have come from the NZVCC and Science NZ. I was surprised to see the NZVCC so conciliatory, given that the report proposes [...]

There were lots of news stories on Saturday, so check them out if you haven’t already. Comments on the stories below or any issues of the day are welcome.

Labour is continuing to argue with National over student loans. Grant Robertson’s post title on Red Alert over the weekend was that Steven Joyce was perpetuating myths on [...]

David Choat is the third blogger to join ED Blog. He is profiled here.
University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr has a challenging article in yesterday’s Press (not online, but UC sent us a copy, where he questions the continuation of New Zealand’s distinctive policy of open entry to universities for adult students.
I thought it might [...]

The TEC doesn’t know how tertiary enrolments are looking, or so said Roy Sharp to the Education and Science Committee yesterday. Since TEC’s investment managers will have been contacting all of the bigger providers, I’m sure Roy does have some good indications of enrolments, but obviously he wasn’t asked the right questions (or they weren’t [...]

The Midwifery Council has led an intriguing change process in recent times, culminating in several providers changing their degrees and a university dropping out of the market. What other industry group is wielding so much power?
As you might be aware, midwives are in shortage in many parts of the country, and the Midwifery Council (MC) [...]


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  • Kiwis tapping the iPhone's potential March 18, 2010
    It's a well-worn adage, especially within the software development industry, but necessity really is the mother of invention for some of New Zealand's most successful iPhone application developers. […]
  • Dozen Witt staff face the axe | Stuff.co.nz March 18, 2010
    Up to 12 full-time staff will be axed as Witt tries to make up for a $2.25 million funding cut expected next year. Consultation has already been completed with the affected employees, who work across a number of areas and it could be finalised this week. […]
  • Lincoln, Teleford study merger proposal March 18, 2010
    Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic are exploring a possible merger of their two institutions in the coming year. The merger talks have been prompted by the tertiary shake-up that looks set to "squeeze" the South Otago rural training institution. […]
  • Study Looks At Exceptional Māori Students March 18, 2010
    Outstanding Māori secondary school students are the focus of new research into what factors influence their success. University of Auckland Faculty of Education lecturer Melinda Webber is one of four researchers, all of Te Arawa descent, who have gone back into their Rotorua community to profile Māori... […]
  • Southern School of Swing Set to Succeed March 18, 2010
    The University of Canterbury’s proposal for a new music school is looking to go ahead, while Wellington plans of a similar nature lay in the pipeline. […]
  • Designer praises iD Fashion to the heavens March 18, 2010
    While the Dunedin fashion scene recovers from a week packed with 16 events, including two sold-out shows, organisers of iD Dunedin Fashion Week are already thinking of next year. […]
  • Fees may put tertiary study 'out of reach' March 18, 2010
    The cost of tertiary study is rising and Government changes could make it dearer still. Critics are worried spiralling costs will take higher study out of reach for some people. […]
  • Editorial: Tapping potential March 18, 2010
    OPINION: The selection of two irrigation schemes among the four winners of a competition to find projects with a long-term potential capacity to make a significant contribution to the Canterbury economy demonstrates the significance of the appropriate use of its water resource to the region. […]
  • Failing students may get two-year reprieve before losing loans March 18, 2010
    Tertiary students failing more than half their papers may be given a two-year time limit to prove they are worthy of keeping student loans. Tertiary Minister Steven Joyce has floated plans to make obtaining student loans subject to a student's success, but details of how it would work are yet to be finalised. […]
  • Exam time for the tertiary education sector March 18, 2010
    Welcome to Tertiary Education Challenge, here is your starter for 10: How many tourism qualifications does a country of four million people need? Let's put it another way. […]
  • Aoraki restructure too fast – union March 18, 2010
    The Tertiary Education Union says Aoraki Polytechnic's restructure is "risky". Six top-level jobs will be axed and new positions created under a new school structure, which Aoraki chief executive Kay Nelson said would help meet the Government's latest demands for the tertiary sector. […]
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