Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is taking a leadership role in the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) through several initiatives to ensure the outcomes are practical for the sheep and beef sector.
The new RoVE legislation was enacted on 1 April 2020, that saw all New Zealand polytechnics merge into one large polytechnic – Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
There is still a lot of work happening in the background and below are some of the groups involved in the merger, and an update on our involvement in each.
A new Food & Fibre Capability Leadership Group (FFCLG) established
Industry, government and Māori have set up a Food & Fibre Capability Group to lead the ongoing implementation of the Skills Action Plan, support the Food & Fibre Capability Forum (a group of 60 food & fibre industry and training organisations), and ensure that industry input into reforms of vocational education (RoVE) continues to be effective.
B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker chairs both groups.
"These groups’ purpose is to ensure strong ongoing industry input into the vocational education and training system, so that the sheep and beef sector (and other sectors) get the kinds and levels of service they need.”
Food & Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) Society established
The Food & Fibre CoVE Society is now established, and the Board is in place. A website for the CoVE is available.
B+LNZ staff are involved in CoVE projects.
Baker says CoVE is about identifying good practice in this sector and spreading it around the system.
Primary ITO Transition and Te Pūkenga Co-Design Process
The Food & Fibre Capability Leadership Group and Forum are involved in the process of transitioning the Primary ITO into both Te Pūkenga (the national polytechnic) and Muka Tangata (the Workforce Development Councils).
B+LNZ’s Chief Insight Officer Jeremy Baker is participating in this work on behalf of the sheep, beef and agricultural sectors.
Unified Funding System (UFS)
The Food & Fibre Capability Forum held a workshop with the Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education on 24 March 2021 on the unified funding system (UFS) for the reforms of tertiary education. The Government spends $100m per year on food and fibre education and training, and this work is key to ensuring that this funding is delivered in ways that provide the kinds of service our sector needs.