Headlines
Registrations for ITF Annual Conference 2008 Open
3 June 2008
Registrations are now open for the ITF Annual Conference 2008 - "Investing in Skills and Productivity". For more information visit:
http://www.itf.org.nz/itf-conference.html
Workplace Skills Investment Critical
22 May 2008
The Government Budget's focussed investment of $168million on developing the skills of the workforce outlined in today’s Budget will address a critical barrier to lifting workplace productivity:
ITF Media Statement Budget.pdf (93KB)
Industry Training at Work Day
1 May 2008
Politicians and other community leaders are discovering
one of the country’s hidden gems as part of Industry Training at Work
Day today.
The day has been organised by the Industry Training Federation (ITF) to raise awareness and understanding of industry training.
Read the full statement here and see who is involved:
See photos and further details of Industry Training at Work day.
Skills Strategy a Significant Step
29 April 2008
The Industry Training Federation has welcomed the release of the New Zealand Skills Strategy discussion document.
“This is a significant step in developing a shared vision to build the skills of our futureworkforce,” Industry Training Federation Chair John Meeuwsen said today.
Read the full media release and fact sheet here:
Skills Strategy for NZ a Significant Step (515KB) (29 April 2008)
Industry Training Factsheet: NZ Skills Strategy (67KB)
Coverage of NZ Skills Strategy on TVNZ "Business Breakfast":
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/413551/414443?video_id=1753378
For more information about the NZ Skills Strategy and how you can get involved in the debate about skills in NZ, visit: http:www.skillsstrategy.govt.nz
Report highlights the importance of workforce skill use
23 April 2008
A joint Department of Labour - ITF report has identified the importance of businesses focusing explicitly on how to get value out of training they engage in, so that they can lift productivity.
The report is the first produced from a research project examining how ITOs can work with NZ enterprises to increase the value they get from training.
Report Highlights Importance of Workforce Skill... (518KB)
For more information contact Jeremy Baker (021) 377791.
Vocational Education and Training Research Forum
Expectation and Direction Key to successful Workplace Training
4 March 2008
Having a clear idea on what you want to achieve with workplace training programmes and articulating it to workers are key factors to ensuring training is successful, says Canadian
researcher Douglas Watt.
Mr Watt was the keynote speaker at the annual Vocational Education and Training Research Forum organised by the Industry Training Federation at Te Papa in Wellington today. Research Forum 04-03-08 (512KB)
Ring a Rosies
8 February 2008
Bubonic plague, skill needs, and industry training. In this recent column published in Education Review, ITF executive director Jeremy Baker suggests that industry training organisations hold the posies that will help New Zealand treat its skills shortages. Workforc e 2020 OpEd (50KB)
ITF Chair on Skills Forum
30 January 2008
The chair of the Industry Training Federation will be part of a new Skills Forum co-chaired by Tertiary Education Minister Pete Hodgson and Associate Tertiary Education Minister Maryan Street. Other members of the forum include several Minister and chief execuitves of government agencies as well as representatives of Business New Zealand the Council for Trade Unions.
For more details and a link to the Cabinet Paper on a skills strategy visit the TEC Website
Skills focus welcome - ITF Media Statement
30 January 2008
Attaining the level of skills the country requires involves much more than training.
Industry Training Federation Executive Director Jeremy Baker said signs that skills will be a focus of this year’s election campaign is good news but it is important for politicians to look beyond training to skills utilisation.
Full Media Release:
Skills focus welcome (377KB)
Launch of BConstructive, a new multi-ITO qualification for the construction industries
14 Nov 2007
BConstructive is a new hands-on qualification aimed at senior secondary school students and others seeking entry to the construction industry. Six ITOs have jointly developed the new National Certificates in Building, Construction and Allied Trades Skills (Levels 1 and 2).
For more information visit: www.bconstructive.co.nz
Just the Job
13 Oct 2007
Series one of Just the Job airs on TV2 at 4pm on Saturdays from 13 October – 15 December 2007.
Just the Job is a TV series that gives people a
practical insight into a range of career paths available in New Zealand. During
the programme’s 10-week run of half-hour episodes will provide informative and
entertaining opportunities to help secondary school students gain first hand
experience of what happens ‘on the job’. In addition to the series being broadcast on TV a copy of the series will be sent to all secondary schools in New Zealand as an ongoing resource.
Youth Apprenticeships Pilot Launch
11 Oct 2007
The ITF attended the launch of the Youth Apprenticeships Pilot at Aquaheat Industries in Tawa, Wellington. The ITF has issued a media statement on this issue. The Government announcement of the pilots can be found here.
Launch of Service Industries Training Alliance (SITA)
10 Oct 2007
The Minister for Tertiary Education, Dr Michael Cullen, officially launched the Service Industries Training Alliance (SITA) on Wednesday 10 October 2007. This alliance of five ITOs will focus on common skills and labour market issues facing the service industries. Some of these ITOs have already worked together on the Tourism Workforce Strategy. The Minister's speech can be read here.
Government to "harmonise" its approach to industry skill development
27 Sep 2007
The government has made some initial decisions on steps to remove anomalies between arrangements for vocational education and training funded through ITOs and through Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.
The government's initial steps are outlined here. The Industry Training Federation will be working with the TEC and government on the next steps of this process to ensure the best outcomes for employers, workers and industry.
OCED Report: Integrating Employment, Skills and Economic Development
September 2007
The OECD recently released a report on good policy and practice in integrating employment, skills and economic development. This report covers New Zealand and 10 other countries, and includes a case study of the Bay of Plenty.
The Department of Labour's web site includes a useful summary of the report.
UK Government releases its response to the "Leitch Report"
July 2007
The UK Government has recently responded to the "Leitch Report", which called for much greater action on developing the skills needed by UK industry. The UK Government largely accepted the recommendations of the Leitch review, and has agreed to take a number of key steps which are of interest in the New Zealand context:
- create a "Commission for Employment and Skills" which will oversee all post-school education and training outside of universities
- make the Sector Skills Councils (the UK equivalent of ITOs) responsible for approving funding for all vocational education and training programmes