Technical and Vocational Education

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) begins at school and with schools’ bridging arrangements with tertiary providers. Tertiary TVET is offered at ITPS, wänanga, PTEs and in the workplace.

Some programmes are also available in government training establishments and several universities. University courses tend to be in areas such as physiotherapy and viticulture.

At the upper secondary school level students may begin to specialise in vocational learning or may integrate some vocational courses into a more general programme.

This is facilitated by:

• a qualifications system in which students gain credits against standards registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) towards a range of nationally and internationally recognised qualifications. Students can accumulate credits in school and in a range of other learning settings
• funding to allow students to take a course beyond the range of the traditional school curriculum while remaining enrolled at school. These programmes allow students to begin work related learning, for example with a polytechnic provider.  Secondary-Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) enables schools to purchase tertiary course provision for students.

Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics

There are 20 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) in New Zealand. They provide professional and vocational education and training ranging from introductory studies through to full degree programmes. Courses emphasise practical experience and application to work situations.

A degree from one of these institutions has equal status with a university degree. Many ITPs also offer English language training.

ITP education features include:

• high teaching hours in a practical environment like studios, workshops, laboratories, hospitals and other workplaces
• professional, applied degrees which are informed by applied research
• teachers of certificates and diplomas are not necessarily researchers but are industry experienced
• many qualifications have integrated work experience, otherwise known as internships, cooperative learning or On-Job Training (OJT)
• a wide range of subjects
• programmes at all levels: community interest courses, foundation programmes, certificates, diplomas, degrees and some postgraduate qualifications. The most common qualifications ITPs award are certificates and diplomas encouraging students to build from lower qualifications to higher ones
• programmes which respond to the needs of their own communities and economies. Flexible delivery includes part-time, weekends, evening classes and online
• high accessibility to students living outside the main cities. Many of them offer tuition at outlying campuses and one, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, specialises in distance education
• qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised.

Private Training Establishments

Many of New Zealand’s Private Training Establishments (PTEs) specialise in tertiary TVET that is specific and aimed at niche occupations such as travel and tourism, design, ICT in certificate, diploma programmes and English language learning.

Industry Training Organisations

Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) are government and industry funded bodies that represent particular industry sectors.

They develop and maintain national unit (skill) standards and qualifications for their sector. They also facilitate on-job training and contract training providers to offer off-job training and courses.