ED Blog is for people working in and around NZ tertiary education who care about policy, strategy and results.
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 [...]
Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue, has welcomed the passing of the Student Loan Scheme (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Bill yesterday
Tai Poutini Polytechnic has launched a Certificate in Drilling, reinforcing their status as the Big Boys Toys polytechnic (they also teach about explosives and diggers).
Feel like a new job? CPIT’s Chief Executive role is up for grabs, [...]
In: Tertiary Staff
25 Feb 2010Six institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) have been renegotiating a multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) for academic staff with the Tertiary Education Union for almost a year now, but are stuck on some big issues. I thought it was time to have a look at why, so I’ll start off with the convoluted back story [...]
In: TEI Issues
23 Feb 2010Employer and union reps are currently guaranteed positions on institute of technology and polytechnic (ITP) Councils until April 30, but should they keep that privilege? I say no. (This is the fifth post in a series on ITP Council changes.)
I’m very supportive of employer and union involvement on ITP councils (and I mean both groups, because there [...]
In: Funding| ITOs| Policy| Tertiary Education
20 Feb 2010In a media control move worthy of Tiger Woods, OUSA is seeking to control footage of Orientation events so that broadcasters can’t show “severe intoxication . . . including, but not limited to vomiting, concussion, fighting, individuals receiving medical attention, and sexually explicit material”. It probably sounded good when it was approved but (a) it [...]
In: Export Education| Funding| Parliament| Policy| Quality Assurance| Research| Tertiary Education
18 Feb 2010The 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 OECD has released a paper on the impact of the economic crisis on education. It is based on a survey last June and is worth a quick skim for people interested in wider policy issues. I’ll be including more international content in the blog from now on, as many other people are dealing with [...]
Radio NZ reports on a veterinarian bonding scheme that has been expanded to include any practice treating production animals, rather than just six specific rural areas. While this may not be good for cats and parrots, it’s interesting to see such a clear split between support for business versus personal needs in an industry, especially [...]
Photo by Miho Tsumakura
UCOL’s Andy Halewood has had his sun lounger accepted in a Waiheke Island-based design exhibition (picture below). I think it will get more media coverage than last year’s sideboard exhibition.
Following up on the beach theme, Environment Bay of Plenty is funding a professorial chair in coastal science at the University of Waikato. Waikato [...]
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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