TEAC Report Released
The Tertiary Education Advisory Commission (TEAC) has released the second of its four planned reports, called `Shaping the System'. This report addresses the overall shape of the tertiary education system, and the various structures needed to ensure the system is able to meet NZ's ongoing needs.
The main comments and recommendations include:
Scarce Resources. The report says the current demand driven funding system - which is a system based on competition between tertiary providers - has helped in getting more students to go to university, but it has also contributed to a climate of "scarce resources". For some organisations this has lead to financial problems, intense competition, duplication of programmes, and threats to the quality of education services and research.
Funding by Programmes. The Commission proposes that tertiary institutions would be funded according to what programmes they provide instead of by the number of students they attract.
A New Intermediate Body. TEAC recommends that central government should take a greater role in "steering" tertiary education. This would happen by the setting up of a new Crown entity, the Tertiary Education Commission. This body would have a role in advising on the overall direction of the tertiary sector, in allocating funding, and helping to bring about greater co-operation within and beyond the system (for example, encouraging greater co-operation in research).
Promoting Excellence. The report also suggests priority be given to starting to identify potential centres and networks of excellence.
| The full report can be found at the commission's website at www.teac.govt.nz |
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