Foreword: Minister for Tertiary Education

A top priority for the government is transforming the economy through a commitment to increasing the skills and knowledge of New Zealanders.

An innovative, highly skilled, high knowledge economy is the best way to raise living standards for all.

Our ambition is to transform our economy into a highly skilled, innovative exporting economy. To achieve this we are investing heavily in skills, learning, research, science and technology.

The tertiary education sector plays a key part in accelerating the transformation of New Zealand’s economy and achieving New Zealanders’ broader social and cultural aspirations.

The new Tertiary Education Strategy, incorporating the Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities, underlines our determination to equip the country with the kind of 21st century skills needed to drive economic transformation. The Strategy sets out the government’s expectations and priorities for New Zealand’s tertiary education system. Consultation undertaken by the ministry during its development in 2006 confirmed that New Zealanders value our tradition of a broad and inclusive tertiary education system that makes a significant contribution to the economic, social, cultural, and the environmentally sustainable development of our nation.

A key priority in the Strategy is to make tertiary education more accessible and more affordable, so more New Zealanders can get the training they need. To achieve this we are reforming the tertiary education sector so that taxpayers, students and employers have more confidence that the tertiary sector is delivering to their needs.

The tertiary reform programme, which is currently under way, will ensure we have a sharper focus on quality, relevance and value for the investment in the tertiary sector. From 2008 the government will be investing in priority areas of tertiary education, and shifting resources to education and training that better matches skill and learning needs. Industry and employers will have greater roles in defining the competencies that graduates need to have. Students will be determining what and how they learn. Tertiary organisations will determine what their distinctive contributions will be and invest in capabilities and staffing around these priorities.

This Statement of Intent sets out how the ministry intends to deliver government’s priorities, and the role it plays in the tertiary reform programme. The ministry’s strategic leadership role and the advice it provides government on the direction and performance of the system will shape current and future priorities to help make tertiary education more accessible and more affordable so more New Zealanders can get the training they need.

Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Minister for Tertiary Education