Queen Elizabeth II Technicians' Study Awards

Introduction

Applications for training assistance in a Commonwealth country are considered and awards made by a selection committee comprising representatives of the Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand, the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Timetable

Applications for the 2009/2010 Awards to be taken up after 1 July 2009 are being received by the Selection Committee postmarked no later than until 5 June 2009.  Grants are made subject to final approval by the Minister of Tertiary Education.   The awards are generally tenable through until the end of the following calendar year.  Exceptions may be made for up to a maximum of two years.

Amount of Individual Awards

The amount awarded may vary depending on the duration of the course of study or training programme and its location as well as other factors.

What is a Technician?

For the purposes of these awards, technicians are defined broadly as that group of trained persons (which may include tradespeople) who are qualified and recognised as technicians/technologists in their discipline and who have worked in their field for at least three years.

Fields of work in which technicians are employed include the health sciences, nursing, science (including chemistry, physics, biology and the various branches of agricultural sciences), engineering (including civil, chemical, metallurgical, electrical and electronic).  Technicians are also found in building, draughting, surveying, town planning, and fishing.  Awards have also been made in the fields of child health, education of handicapped persons, police work and the arts, including print making and photography.

In determining the awards, the definition of "technician" will be interpreted liberally and prospective applicants should not be deterred from applying because their work is not specifically covered above.

What part does the Selection Committee play? 

In considering the actual level of award, the Committee is permitted under the Act to contribute to the cost of tuition fees, books, materials, and student union fees for courses of enrolled tertiary study.    The Committee can also contribute to a living allowance for the duration of the course.  A major expense for overseas study is travel and the Act permits the Committee to contribute to this.

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Types of Training Supported

Recent awards have supported technicians undertaking the following studies:

Description	Country
A study of non-starter bacteria in cheese to improve the consistency of flavour and shelf life of the products as part of training in starter culture technology.	Australia
A study of techniques used in the electrophysiology laboratories especially in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.	England
To explore further the environmental technologies that can create added value from industrial waste streams particularly in the use of a unique group of bacteria to create biodegradable plastics.	UK
The investigation of operating and maintenance procedures of digital and multimedia equipment and facilities including the certification for equipment servicing.	Australia
The expansion of trade training opportunities in the processing and machining of wood products.	Canada
To undertake training at a specialist centre in the methods to co-culture intestinal cells with anaerobic bacteria as a model for gut health both in humans and animals.	Scotland
To study the use of DNA analysis for wildlife managers, researchers and breeders. This includes the research techniques, handling large DNA databases and possible commercial applications.	Canada
Study of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather index and its application to New Zealand together with the spatial information modelling and prediction of forest fire danger using a wider range of parameters than currently used in New Zealand.	Canada
The study aims to build knowledge and links in aquatic toxicology particularly with regards to the effects of reproductive fitness of fish following exposure to wastewater.	UK & Canada
The acquisition of the knowledge and skills to design custom electronic circuitry inside reprogrammable chips leading to the expansion of training of technicians who can design, repair and maintain complex systems.	Australia
The examination and identification of Antarctic squid and octopus beaks to identify prey species on New Zealand's fishing industry. The British Antarctic Survey has the most extensive collection and expertise in this subject.	UK
With New Zealand establishing commercial hatcheries, further training in the management of the ponds, facilities and technology at a world leader in shellfish hatcheries is intended.	UK
Training in wood properties and development in control pollination has much potential to increase the value of New Zealand tree crops.	South Africa
Undertake studies in Algae identification	UK
Study new molecular techniques for the analysis of soil bacteria	UK
Attend Ocean Mapping Multibeam Sonar mapping Course	Singapore
Specialist training in the design, implementation and analysis of genome wide DNA-protein interactions	Singapore
Techniques for waste water treatment and establishing collaborative links	Australia
Study the biological control of weeds	South Africa
Attend trawl gear technology and flume tank course	UK
Attend a post graduate course in sleep medicine technology	Australia
Investigate integrated pest management for arable cropping rotations	UK
Study food grade polymers coated on paperboard	Canada
Investigate new practices in science communication	UK
Training and tuition in methodology for recognising sleep patterns in sheep	Canada
Cell culture training course	UK
The application of molecular markers as a wheat selection tool	Canada
Study advanced fluidization engineering and pyrolysis technologies	Canada
Study stream restoration design and monitoring	Canada
Investigate diets which may contribute to colonic disease	Australia
Training in inflammatory response assay	UK
to study processing and dynamic testing of polymer composite materials	UK
Study design and maintenance of astronomical instruments	Australia
Advanced processes for auditory morphometric measurements.	Australia
A study of quality control systems related to insect pathogenic fungi	UK
Investigate ways of measuring rates of bioturbation, luminophores and sediment profile imaging	UK
To study crustacean behavioural and physiological trials in the laboratory	UK
To learn about the novel use of UV light in milk processing to reduce microbial contamination	Canada
investigate stability trials of biotech products	UK
study freshwater algae sampling and taxonomy	UK
train in mass spectrometry	Canada
study the genotyping of health promoting compounds	Canada
Investigate gene identification at the molecular level of human cancers	UK
study fish laboratory trial techniques incl stream restoration and enhancement	Canada
study biochemical techniques for soil analysis	Canada
study advanced hydrographic techniques	Canada
study new molecular techniques on insect toxins	UK
undertake specialist laboratory training with ovine muscle cells	Australia
train for Sample Analysis techniques	Australia
investigate management of medical and anatomical collections	UK
study computation aspects of recombinant proteins and enzyme structure	UK
study plant pathology of European Canker	UK
study fresh water toxin analysis and liquid chromatography	Canada

The Committee will not support proposals that involve solely the attendance at a conference.

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"Partnership" Approach

The Selection Committee takes the approach that they are in partnership with the applicant and the applicant's employer in facilitating a course of study or training opportunity that might not otherwise be available.

What is expected of the applicant? 

The successful applicant personally gains much from the award.  The knowledge and training becomes part of their personal skills set; the Committee therefore looks for some contribution from the applicant's personal financial resources toward the cost.

What about the employer?

Employers are also a major beneficiary of the knowledge and training and the Committee expects that they will support the award in some way.  Most employers recognise the need to support the continuing career development of their staff.  While policies on supporting staff on full pay while on study leave vary from organisation to organisation, the Selection Committee usually looks for this type of support from employers whether on full, or a reduced level of pay.

The Selection Committee is happy for applicants to submit proposals without first gaining a guarantee of financial support from their employer.  The Committee have found that a conditional offer of finance from the QEII Technicians' Study Awards often assists with gaining the financial support from an employer.

Members of the Selection Committee are available to speak to employers where required, and to emphasise the value the Committee sees in supporting a particular application.

The application form seeks assurances of the contributions that can be made by the three parties in the "partnership".

Location

The award may only be granted for full time study in a Commonwealth country including New Zealand.

Awards are not normally made to persons who are currently students.  It is expected that applicants will have had a significant period of relevant work experience since completing their existing qualifications.

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Preference

In general preference will be given to applicants:

wishing to study outside New Zealand because comparable courses are not available here; and
who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and currently hold an appropriate initial qualification in their area of work; and 
whose knowledge and training will be available to the wider group of individuals involved in the applicant's area of work and so enable New Zealand as a whole to benefit, rather than a particular organisation or the individual alone.

Reporting

Candidates will be required to submit a short report (to a maximum of two pages of typescript) to the Secretary of the QEII Technicians’ Study Awards on the completion of their award, outlining the training and the benefits they have received.   

Historical

The QEII Technicians' Study Awards were inaugurated in 1970.  During her visit to New Zealand in that year, Her Majesty the Queen agreed to accept a gift from the people of New Zealand and decided that this gift should be study awards for technicians. 

The legal basis for the awards is The Queen Elizabeth II Technicians' Study Award Act 1970.   The award according to the preamble to this Act is:

"To encourage and promote the pursuance of full time study in disciplines such as Engineering, Science, Building, Surveying, Management, Design, Agriculture, Dairying, Technology, Forestry, Mining and Technologies associated with Tourism, so that all people of New Zealand may benefit".

Applications for the 2009/2010 awards must be postmarked no later than 5 June 2009.
The recipients of the 2009/2010 awards will be announced by the Minister of Education in July 2009.

The Queen Elizabeth II Technicians' Study Awards are managed by
WIN Network Ltd under contract to the Ministry of Education.

Address all correspondence including requests for further information
and application forms to:

Secretary
QEII Technicians' Study Awards
773 Moonshine Road
R D 1, PORIRUA, 5381

Phone:    (04) 528 0808            
Fax:        (04) 528 0807
email:    ajhutson@xtra.co.nz      (forms available as an email attachment)

Please note that while inquiries by fax or email are welcome,
only the completed original application can be accepted.    

The closing date for receiving applications is postmarked, Friday 5 June 2009.