Ten work streams are focused on laying the foundation for the Institute to operate as a legal entity on Day One (intended to be 1 April 2020):
- Establishment implementation plan
- Chief executive selection
- Transitioning ITPs to subsidiaries
- Day One operational requirements
- Mobilising the new world (see below)
- Name and brand
- Stakeholder engagement model
- Board and subsidiary governance model
- Capital asset strategy
- Implementation business case
One of these, ‘Mobilising the new world’ comprises seven working groups (which we have previously described as work streams) engaged in future-based thinking and activities which are intended to continue after the Institute comes into existence.
- Learner journey map
- Employer and community engagement model
- Education products and services
- Work-based learning development
- New academic architecture
- Online delivery model
- International education
Each of the seven working groups have now had three meetings, with one more to go before the summer break. The current focus has been preparing high level summaries of each topic area for the Establishment Board meeting which was hold on 10 December. These will then be further refined and supplemented, to form the basis for a comprehensive briefing to the incoming NZIST Council and CEO who will be in place from 1 April 2020.
It is clear from the scale of both the opportunity and challenges, that many of the initiatives will take several years to come to fruition and that 2020 will be very much a year of ‘business as usual’ for most in the sector. This timeline gives some sense of the likely order of events.
Here’s some more details on the working groups that Unitec is part of. You are welcome to contact any of the Unitec working group members if you would like to know more.
Work-Based Learning (Heather Stonyer representing Unitec)
Our work has sought to better understand the range of work-based learning (WBL) models occurring in New Zealand, their limits and benefits and gaps. This has informed our matrix of high-touch and low-touch support WBL models reflecting a range of employer (size, sector, coverage including self-employed etc) and learner (culture, learning aptitude, lifestage etc) needs. These models comprise varying proportions of on and off-job learning developed via tripartite employer-learner-provider partnership. It includes paid full-time/part-time or unpaid/voluntary work experience, and those in the workforce who may be transitioning into WBL from school, pre-employment, progressing their learning, or career changers. Analysis of the learner journey across a number of personas has identified key elements and ‘pillars’ of success informing our matrix.
Given this, the key question we continue to grapple with is ‘how do we maintain continuity (for learners and employers currently engaged) and growth (we have proposed that one KPI of the success of NZIST will be an increase in WBL) of these models during and after transition?’ One of the critical elements identified to date, is that it is difficult to design and evolve to build a future-focused model until all parts of the system are brought together (noting, it is unclear at this stage when ITOs become part of NZIST).
Learner Journey Map (Annette Pitovao representing Unitec)
As a collective working group we have built learner personas to help understand the wide range of profiles that will be undertaking study with NZIST. With over 130,000 learners from the ITO group, NZIST will be a very large entity of 250,000+ learners. We have taken a particular focus on Priority Group learners (Māori, Pacific, Under 25, International, Learners with Disabilities) to better inform the next stages. In order to assist other working groups we have shared these personas across teams to help inform inter-connected thinking and developments, ensuring that all types of learners are at the heart of the discussions. We now move into the implications and considerations prompts that the governance briefing will need to factor in. Student voice continues to be strongly represented and encouraged. Holistic agile support with the view towards retention continues to be a key topic. Hui #4 is on Monday 9 December in Wellington, hosted by Industry Training Organisation HQ with another very full day planned.
International Education (David Glover representing Unitec)
Our group has been focused on how NZIST will support the new International Education Strategy which, in addition to recruitment of students, emphasis the benefits of global citizenship for New Zealanders. The working group has met with Education New Zealand to better understand the new direction. We have identified a number of priorities for the next year including clear, confident communications to offshore markets maintaining student well-being and promoting increased co-operation between ITPs.
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Our last RoVE update was 9 October 2019 – RoVE: Workforce Development Council workshops