Issue No 49 - 03 September 2001
<b>Contents:</b>
<ul>
<li><a href="#1">Fees Frozen Again Next Year</a>
<li><a href="#2">ww.industry-training</a>
<li><a href="#3">NZ Delegation to UN Session On Children</a>
<li><a href="#4">Social Capital Forum</a>
</ul>
<hr>
<a name="1"></a>
<b>FEES FROZEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR</b>

Fees will be frozen at all tertiary institutions again next year after a sector-wide agreement to accept a 2.6 percent funding increase offer made in the budget in return for holding their fees at current levels in 2002.

Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said the second year of fee stabilisation is equivalent to an average saving of $1000 for each student next year.  Fees increased 12 percent annually on average under National and would have continued to do so.  When Labour and the Alliance were elected in 1999 fees averaged $4,040 and would have risen to over $5,000 by now without the additional investment the Government has provided in both its budgets.

Mr Maharey said cutting the cost of tertiary education was a key election pledge that the Government has now delivered on two years running.

There are in excess of 225,000 students enrolled at New Zealand's universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and wananga.  Fee stablisation avoids these students getting deeper into debt and is also a signal to those considering study that it is an attractive option.

Mr Maharey also said that acceptance of the fee stablisation offer also signals an important milestone in the Government's relationship with the tertiary sector.  Since the June budget Ministers have met several times with sector representatives to break what looked like an impasse over the fee stablisation offer.  Considerable progress was able to be made once institutions and the Government were able to sit down around the table to discuss where tertiary policy was heading and what assistance could be offered to the sector to meet those challenges.

<a name="2"></a>
<b>WWW.INDUSTRY-TRAINING</b>

Harnessing the power of the internet and other computer-based learning modes is the aim of a $1 million New Technology Project now underway, Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey told Parliament last week.

Skill New Zealand has up to $1 million to allocate on a cost-shared basis to projects that increase employees' access to industry training through the use of new technologies, such as computer- or web-based training.

Mr Maharey said the funding demonstrates the Government's inclusive vision for skills development.  The New Technology Project recognises that skill levels need to be built on the nation's factory floors as well as in university and polytechnic lecture theatres.

The New Technology Project aims to strengthen the capacity of industry to capitalise on technology-enabled learning to develop and maintain a skilled workforce.  It's key objectives are to:

<ul>
<LI>expand employees' access to industry training;
<LI>promote generically applicable learning solutions for employees who otherwise have limited access to industry training;
<LI>promote the development and implementation of new technology within and across industry; and,
<LI>stimulate cross-industry expertise on innovative technology practices.
</ul>

Skill New Zealand is currently seeking expressions of interest from ITOs to access the funding from the Project.

* for more information visit <a href="http://www.skillnz.govt.nz/new/newtechguide.htm">www.skillnz.govt.nz/new/newtechguide.htm</a>

<a name="3"></a>
<b>NZ DELEGATION TO UN SESSION ON CHILDREN</b>

New Zealand's delegation to the UN Special Session on Children in New York next month is to include two specially selected young people, Social Services Minister Steve Maharey said last week.

Seventeen-year old Tekerei Moka from Christchurch and twelve-year old Jessica Dewan from Auckland are to be included in the 5 member delegation which will be led by Mr Maharey.  Other members are the Commissioner for Children, Roger McLay and John Angus, a senior child, family and community manager from the Ministry of Social Policy.

The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children on 19 - 21 September is a follow-up to the 1990 World Summit for Children where the 10 year Action Plan for the Survival, Protection and Development of Children was agreed.  The Special Session will focus on a renewed commitment and pledge for specific actions for the coming decade.

Mr Maharey said more than 250 young people applied to the Ministry of Youth Affairs for the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the New York Summit. The two young peoples' trip to New York has been funded by Save the Children, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Te Puni Kokiri, the Commissioner for Children and the Ministry of Social Policy.  The New Zealand Delegation will depart for New York on 17 September.

<a name="4"></a>
<b>SOCIAL CAPITAL FORUM</b>

Steve Maharey travels to Wanganui on Friday to speak to a forum on social capital.  Organised by the Whanganui Community Foundation it will discuss how communities can develop local solutions for local issues.