Trades training package announced as part of Budget 2020
17 May 2020
The Government announced a significant trades training package as part of its Budget.
The following information has been distributed by the Tertiary Education Commission:
As part of [the package], the formation of all six Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) will be fast-tracked for establishment by the target date of October 2020. This is ahead of the original target of mid-2021, to help support New Zealand’s COVID-19 recovery.
COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented impacts on New Zealand industry, employers, learners and communities. We need a strong, unified, sustainable vocational education and training system to help lessen the social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
Early formation of all six WDCs will be enabled by the establishment of six skills-based interim Establishment Boards (iEBs) – one for each of the six WDCs. The original ‘Establishment Working Groups’ are superseded by the iEBs.
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) will appoint the members of the iEBs through an Expression of Interest (EoI) process running from 18 May – 2 June 2020. Industry can self-nominate through the EoI process. In particular, we are looking for people supported by their industry association, membership body, advisory group, employer collective, Māori employer and industry groups, transitional Industry Training Organisation or other wider stakeholder group.
TEC will also be conducting its own search for appropriately skilled candidates from industry to supplement the EoI process. All six iEBs will be appointed in June.
Each iEB’s primary role is to establish the WDC as a legal entity. Where possible and practical, the iEB will also work with transitional Industry Training Organisations, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) and other providers to inform the tertiary education system's response to COVID-19 impacts.
As we move into a new era of vocational education and training, the spirit of collaboration that underpins the reform will be more important than ever, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. The new system will be focused on supporting learners, employers, providers, industry and regions.
We want to reiterate that stakeholder voices remain integral and valuable to the work we are doing. The wider RoVE programme will continue to work closely with industry, partners, employers, Māori, iwi, education and training organisations, peak bodies, learners and unions – among many others – to work through challenges and opportunities.
Please continue to stay in contact with us with any questions or concerns you may have. You can email us at WDCs@tec.govt.nz. We encourage you to keep an eye on our TEC>RoVE website for more information. You can also subscribe to our RoVE Newsletter.