Te Wānanga o Aotearoa acting chief executive Nepia Winiata (left) and Te Pūkenga chief executive Stephen Town following the signing of the MOU.
Tertiary organsations Te Wananga o Aotearoa and Te Pūkenga have announced a Memorandum of Understanding they say will serve current and future generations of New Zealanders through upskilling and access to training opportunities.
The agreement commits both organisations to increasing the number of people upskilling in trades and skills-based vocations.
Te Pūkenga – the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology – is the vocational education provider in New Zealand and was established following the April 2020 merging of the country’s 16 polytechs.
“TWoA has a long history of working with our most vulnerable communities and with those unable to access tertiary education opportunities in remote locations,” acting chief executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Nepia Winiata said.
“Our agreement with Te Pūkenga ensures we are positioned strongly to deliver on our mission of tauira success.
“Under the agreement we will work co-operatively and collaboratively to identify and develop areas of mutual interest that in particular contribute to the advancement of the interest of whānau, hapū and hāpori (communities),” Mr Winiata said.
Te Pūkenga Chief Executive Stephen Town said it could mean any ‘arranging training’ functions transferred from Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITOs) to Te Pūkenga could be delivered by the two organisations together, or could be transferred from Te Pūkenga to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to deliver.
“This is a big step and acknowledges the rangatiratanga of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and the unique expertise they hold,” Mr Town said.
‘Arranging training’ is a function currently delivered by TITOs for work-based learning such as traineeships and apprenticeships and includes organising the delivery, assessment and monitoring of training, development of training resources and supporting employers and learners.
“Ultimately we will be measured by our ability to improve outcomes for learners and employers. We believe an interactive, positive and balanced partnership with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa can help us do that,”
Mr Town said.
