The Food & Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) was officially launched last week as part of the vocational education reforms. Find out what this means for farmers.
The Food & Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) is part of the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education and funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
The Food & Fibre CoVE is designed to drive innovation and excellence in vocational education by connecting industry with the vocational education sector, researchers, and communities.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) have taken a leadership role in the establishment of the CoVE, with B+LNZ’s Chief Insights Officer Jeremy Baker leading the consortium of organisations that successfully bid for the CoVE’s $12.4 million Government funding. William Beetham, the Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Vice-President will sit on the CoVE Board, and B+LNZ staff will support CoVE projects and technical working groups.
“It’s essential that industry bodies lead these reforms to ensure we attract talented and motivated people into the food & fibre sector and equip them with the skills to be successful,” says Jeremy.
What does this mean for farmers?
The Food & Fibre CoVE will run projects to improve the quality and relevance of primary sector vocational education and training across the whole vocational sector.
“Ultimately, this will mean more relevant and available training for farmers and their staff,” says Jeremy.
About CoVE
CoVE has been set up by an industry-led consortium, involving 54 organisations across the entire food and fibre sector including industry associations, tertiary education providers, Māori, employers, employees, and standard-setting bodies.
It is one of several CoVEs that will be created through the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE). CoVEs will play an important role in the vocational education system. As part of the structural changes being made, the CoVE will work closely with Workforce Development Councils, Regional Skills Leadership Groups, the new national institute Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, and other CoVEs.