TES needs to reflect labour market

The Industry Training Federation is calling on the Government to link its Tertiary Education Strategy to labour market outcomes.

In its submission on the strategy, the Federation says developing skills isn’t enough on its own to drive the economy forward.

“The strategy needs to include a focus on skill use and increasing the relevance of skills to the economy and the labour market,” Federation Executive Director Jeremy Baker said.

Download the submission here.

Registrations open for first Qualifications Forum

If qualifications are your thing, then mark 4 December in your diary. Registrations are now open for the first New Zealand Qualifications Forum.

The Industry Training Federation, with support from ITPQ and NZQA, is organising the day in Wellington in response to demand for a dedicated and cross-sector forum for professional learning and networking on qualifications issues.

The Forum will include a range of presentations from agencies, ITOs and tertiary providers aimed at confronting the challenges in qualifications and considering innovative ways in which they can be designed and developed to meet diverse needs and objectives.

More information and details on how to register.

Bright Sparks for the future

A remote controlled lawnmower (pictured), a posture correcting shirt, and a fire-fighting robot are some of this year’s finalists in the Bright Sparks awards.

The awards are part of ETITO’s Bright Sparks programme for secondary schools, started in 2000 and aimed at developing a pool of talented young people to fuel the future growth of the hi-tech sector.

The awards, one of the annual highlights of the programme, involves students creating inspired technological inventions which can help open doorways and enable them to make important industry connections.

This year, there’s a new focus on making the awards an interactive online event, with an event website and twitter account encouraging feedback and comments on the finalist entries , not only from other young inventors, but from industry representatives, technology teachers and career advisers.

EEO Trust Work and Life Award winners

ITOs featured prominently at this year’s EEO Trust Work and Life Awards which celebrate organisations which actively invest in their businesses by investing in their diverse workforces.

Supreme Award winner NZSki Ltd, which also won the Tomorrow’s Workforce Award, was recognised for a programme it initiated to overcome the ‘one season wonder’ nature of its workforce. Its initiatives included working with two ITOs – ATTTO and Skills Active – to deliver a qualification specifically recognising skills and development in snowsport and tourism.

Downer EDI works won the Skills Highway Award for Way2Work a literacy, language and numeracy programme that it developed with InfraTrain.