Tertiary Update Vol 16 No 11 Data from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) shows the government has made almost a direct transfer of $25 million from publicly owned polytechnics to privately-owned tertiary education providers (PTEs). Government funding for polytechnics fell from last year to this year by $29 million dollars, or 4.7 percent.  Meanwhile funding [...]

It seems that the Tertiary Education Commission has, in its haste to implement the minister’s level one and two contestable funding experiment, made rushed assessments of several private training providers’ preparedness to teach courses early next year. The chief executive of Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Peter Brothers, said last week his institution has been [...]

TEU’s national day of action opposing cuts to foundation studies campaign drew widespread publicity and a small initial victory at UCOL where several jobs were saved. As last week’s day of action took place the CEO of UCOL, Paul McElroy announced that the polytechnic would no longer be closing four programmes: the Certificate in Fashion and [...]

Tertiary Update Vol 15 No 41 TEU members are holding protests and meetings at polytechnics around the country today to convince the government to put more money into foundation studies education at polytechnics. The protests coincide with media coverage (from Auckland’s New Zealand Herald to Dunedin’s Otago Daily Times) of the millions of dollars the government has [...]

Tertiary Update Vol 15 No 40 The Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) is looking to cut courses and staff in its English, foundation studies, business services, horticulture, automotive and trades schools.  The cuts follow a decision by the Tertiary Education Commission several weeks ago to cut the polytechnic’s funding for 400 full-time students. The course [...]

Lesley Francey from the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) will be the new president of the Tertiary Education Union next year, after the union’s members elected her in a ballot over the last fortnight. Lesley Francey beat the other candidate, Richard Draper, a senior lecturer from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, by 1310 votes [...]

TEU members at Manukau Institute of Technology had intended to hold a lunchtime barbecue for Wiri’s locked-out AFFCO workers tomorrow. Members who brought food to donate to the locked out workers and their families would have received a sausage sizzle in return. However, MIT’s chief executive Dr Peter Brothers vetoed the idea telling the union [...]

A lobbying disclosure bill that is to be debated by parliament could impact tertiary institutions that currently pay lobbying agencies to influence politicians.  Last year Tertiary Update revealed that private lobbying and consultancy company Saunders Unsworth lists among its past and present clients Massey University, Otago University, the six metro polytechnics, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Industry Training Federation. [...]

TEU members at the Manukau Institute of Technology are voting on whether to ratify a collective agreement after only a day of negotiations. The new agreement includes a 2 percent pay rise and no loss of conditions. The ratification vote closes tomorrow afternoon. Branch president Lesley Francey says she is pleased with how smoothly the [...]

Tertiary institutions are in a constant state of restructuring says TEU deputy secretary Nanette Cormack. Last week TEU’s national council heard that there are 59 reviews affecting 500 jobs currently underway across 17 different tertiary education institutions. “500 members are about 5 percent of our membership. When one in twenty people are having their job [...]