Kia ora koutou,
I hope you were able to enjoy some quality time with your whānau over Easter and what was the mid-semester break for many of our kaimahi. I know how important these breaks are in taking stock and setting up for the rest of the year. As a leadership team we are also very much focused on the future and looking forward to connecting more closely with you over the coming months.
Last year I was glad to join more frequent direct meetings with kaimahi than what's usually possible. I said then I’d be back for more. And in May, together with the leadership team I will be, through meetings and discussions across the network.
In June, as you know, we will start formal consultation on the next phase of our Organisational Design and Change programme. But before then it will be good to talk kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), listen and answer your questions.
I know how difficult this time has been for many of you wanting more certainty. I appreciate your patience. It will be good to share more with you on how all the parts of our national operating model will continue to come together.
Our purpose, of course, remains unchanged.
I'm always proud to see the work and achievements of kaimahi and ākonga. It reminds me daily why we are here.
Recent highlights include the launch of new trades training scholarships for ākonga Māori and Pasifika from SIT Te Pūkenga to build the new Awarua Rūnaka Waituna Lagoon Education Centre.
Later this year, Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga will host the Neuroability Symposium 2023 in Dunedin. This will allow tertiary educators to share their practices and experiences, helping advance knowledge in the important area of working with people across the neurodivergent spectrum.
Also down south, I’d like to acknowledge Jase Tibble who is finishing with Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga on 24 May. I’m grateful to Jase for stepping up and continuing to lead Otago Polytechnic when Megan Gibbons was appointed as our Deputy Chief Executive Academic Centre and Learning Systems. I wish him every success in the next step in his career.
We are delighted that Chris Williamson will take up the role of Executive Director of Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga. Chris brings significant leadership experience to Otago Polytechnic, most recently as Deputy Chief Executive for Academic Delivery, and has proven commitment to excellence in vocational education and training.
I also want to acknowledge the many teams who've collaborated and worked long, hard hours to put together and deliver our Cyclone Gabrielle Manaaki Fund for ākonga. Since it was launched in late March, we've had more than 1300 applications for funding, the bulk of which have been processed and paid. This is an excellent example of the power of our national network and how we can come together to provide the support our communities need. Feedback from ākonga has been overwhelmingly positive. I thought you may like to see a couple of the many comments we received:
‘Morena, Nga mihinunui, A beautiful gesture and a great help. Thank you for this, my children and I greatly appreciate it’
‘Ngā mihi e te whānau 🙌🏾 Nothing but gratitude, thank you for supporting myself and all ākonga needing manaakitanga right now.’
‘Ngā mihi Te Pukenga!!! This is a huge help!!!!’
I look forward to sharing more progress with you over the coming months.
Ngā mihi nui
Peter Winder
Tumuaki | Chief Executive
Organisational design and change programme – Timeline update
As you will have seen in Peter Winder’s announcement last week, consultation seeking further input from kaimahi and completing the Organisational Design and Change (ODC) Programme will begin the week of 12 June 2023.
The consultation, which will run for five weeks, will cover Ako Delivery, Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction, Academic Centre and Learning Systems, Tiriti Outcomes and the Communications function of the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE).
The overarching timelines for the transition pathway are:
- Develop proposed structure: February – June 2023
- Consultation: June – July 2023
- Feedback and Decisions: July – August 2023
- Implementation: August – October 2023
We have scheduled to make and communicate decisions from August.
The Organisational Design and Change (ODC) team understands kaimahi need for more clarity and certainty and we are working to meet this requirement as quickly as possible.
Progress of other business groups
People, Culture and Wellbeing (PCW), Digital, and Finance and Property are in implementation.
Strategy and Transformation and the balance of the Office of the Chief Executive are in planning.
Digital Phase 2 planning will begin shortly. We expect to propose, consult and finalise the structure this year.
More information will be added to Te Whare. Specific updates on the change programme, where there is something new to share are linked below.
Meet our kaimahi
‘Meet our kaimahi’ is a new section of Ngā Taipitopito where we’ll get to know some of our colleagues, recently appointed into our new roles.
Aniwairua Komarkowski-Chapman was appointed three weeks ago as Pounuku Uara, Co-Director Organisational Development and Equity within our People, Culture and Wellbeing (PCW) team. When Aniwairua isn’t changing the world by making it a more equitable place you’ll find her exploring the beautiful coastal walkways near her new home in West Harbour.
Read more about Aniwairua’s interesting mahi and what she gets up to outside work here.
Did you know?
In this new section of Ngā Taipitopito, we’ll explore some of those things that most of us don’t typically dive into as part of our everyday mahi at Te Pūkenga.
This week, we’ll learn a little about how we’re funded. Future editions will cover things like naming conventions in te reo Māori, and our consultation and integration processes.
If you’d like to suggest a topic you’d like to know more about (or you’d like others to know more about), let us know by emailing communications@tepukenga.ac.nz.
How is Te Pūkenga funded?
With the Reform of Vocational Education and the establishment of Te Pūkenga, the funding model for vocational education and training has also changed. Here’s a summary of what that means:
The past
Previously Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) received government funding from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) through Investment Plans. These outlined a TEO’s planned strategic intentions, activities and programmes.
ITPs and ITOs received a subsidy for each domestic student enrolled or trainee signed up to apprenticeships or industry training. ITPs and ITOs also charged students’ fees because the subsidy wasn't enough to cover the cost of delivery, and ITOs worked in partnership with employers to arrange the training.
The Unified Funding System
One intent of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) is to reduce competition in the vocational education and training industry, supported by a single approach to funding.
The Unified Funding System (UFS) is a new funding system that aims to put learners’ needs first, so they can study the right things at the right time and place.
The UFS has three components:
- the delivery component - based on subject and mode of delivery - this makes up around 85% of funding
- learner component - provides increased funding to support historically underserved learners
- strategic component - provides additional funding to support regional and national skills needs.
The present
Now we’re all part of Te Pūkenga, we have one Investment Plan – Mahere Haumi Investment Plan 2023-2025. It must reflect our functions and charter.
Te Pūkenga and other vocational education and training providers now receive funding (for non-degree study at levels 3 to 7 and for all industry training) from the same fund – the UFS.
There’s still a variation in funding for different modes of delivery and subjects, reflecting the difference in cost structures.
The future
Now we have one Investment Plan, we’re better placed to make good decisions about where, when, how and to whom we’re best to deliver vocational training and education.
To create our Investment Plan, we work with Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) and Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs) to understand national and regional priorities. We also work with iwi, hapū and Māori to understand our Tiriti partners’ vocational, foundation and higher education needs.
Our funding structure is designed to incentivise us to:
- support the needs of all ākonga, especially Māori, Pacific people and disabled people
- encourage work-based and work-integrated learning
- meet the skills needs of employers
- provide more training support for employees
- meet the skills needs of all regions of Aotearoa New Zealand
- ensure consistency in vocational education across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Fees
We will continue to collect revenue from domestic and international tuition fees, and over time our fees will be standardised.
So far, our new international learners' tuition fees have been standardised (implementation starts in July 2023).
Getting to the heart of Whiria Te Ako – video series now available
A series of short videos have been developed to help us better understand some of the kupu Māori and Te Ao Māori concepts used in Whiria Te Ako, the teaching and learning framework for Te Pūkenga.
The videos can be found here on Te Whare and feature Engagement and Mātauranga Māori Advisor Layelin Stewart and former Communications Co-Manager Ash Muir.
Ash and Layelin created the videos to support us on our learning journey by building our te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori capability, encouraging us to think about how we incorporate kupu Māori and Te Ao Māori concepts into our mahi. Each session coaches us on our pronunciation too!
Watch the video series here.
Let’s talk gratitude
Practising gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, helping us feel more optimistic and resilient during difficult times.
In March, we asked what you feel grateful for – here's a snapshot of your responses:
“I am grateful for my friends and my sons. Some of my work colleagues have become great friends too over the years. When you have good people in your life, you feel that can overcome anything”.
“I'm grateful for the wonderful wāhine who have become my village and helped my private and professional journey. I am grateful for my sons who have taught me about life and patience. I'm grateful for my personal trainer who support me in growing my body stronger than ever so that I can lead a healthier and stronger life.”
“Grateful I wake up in a safe home that is warm and has kai. Also, that my tamariki are healthy and content in their little world. Never underestimate the small things.”
Read more about the benefits of practicing gratitude.
This month, we explore taha whānau (family and social wellbeing) – tell us what this means to you.
Join the fun with the Taumauri Whānau Feud Quiz
From Monday 15 May, , Taumauri, our wellbeing platform, will host a fun team challenge called Whānau Feud (inspired by game shows like Family Feud and Family Fortune) for two weeks.
You’ll compete in teams of 2-6 to win an assortment of prizes. You’ll work together to guess the answers to a series of questions.
Get your team together and register for Taumauri to stay updated.