Meet Stephen Town.

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 26, No 2

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union invites all our members who work in vocational education to participate in the first of a series of online meetings with Te Pūkenga Chief Executive Stephen Town at 12pm on 25 February.

The Operating Model recently proposed by Te Pūkenga and its impact on staff will be the main topic of the first meeting. Stephen will discuss its core components, and TEU’s Te Pūkenga Liaison Officers Drew Duncan, Pam Fleming, and Angela Yerkovich will provide their own unique commentary on the model before opening up the floor to any and all questions members might have.

Drew Duncan is excited to be a part of these unique events. “I hope people appreciate the opportunity Stephen Town is giving TEU members and they use it to gain as much positive traction as they can.”

For Pam Fleming there are a couple of key aspects of the operating model she’s looking forward to clarifying. “Firstly, I would like to understand how the operating model is going to empower all staff including those in the rural and remote communities. Secondly, I would like to see where adult and second chance learners fit in the Operating Model.”

And for Angela Yerkovich, as it is for many of our members, Te Tiriti is at the forefront. “As a Māori member of the TEU, I would like to leave the hui with the confidence that the commitments made to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to Māori will be fulfilled.”

While the operating model might be the main order of business, it’s expected to be a wide ranging discussion that will likely touch on regional provision – especially as it relates to the government’s new “Unified Funding System” that is expected to further squeeze funding in some areas.

These fora are the first of their kind in our sector. Never before has the leader of a major tertiary provider been prepared to front up and answer questions from union members up and down the country in a major event.

To register, contact kylie.cox@teu.ac.nz

The second of these live events will take place in April.

Also in this update:

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