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I am pleased to introduce the Baseline Monitoring Report for the Tertiary Education Strategy 2002/07.

If we want New Zealand to have a strong education system, I believe we must be unambiguously focused on learning, with strong alignment within and across diverse roles and a clear sense of strategic direction.

The introduction of the TES in 2002 provided a clear sense of strategic direction for the tertiary education system and how it needs to better contribute to improved student outcomes and wider social and economic outcomes. The TES contains a strong focus on achieving excellence in learning through teaching and research, developing a tertiary education system which is relevant to the country’s needs and making sure that there is equitable access for all New Zealanders.

Monitoring the TES has required creating a new approach for system-level monitoring and evaluation. In the past, monitoring has focused mainly on the implementation of specific programmes. Now we are focusing on monitoring that is relevant to the tertiary education system as a whole and the difference it makes to better student and societal outcomes.

I see this project as part of a larger shift in thinking about education. It is part of a move from thinking about inputs and activities to focusing on the learning outcomes – whether these result from a programme of teaching or new research. It is also a shift from relying on anecdote to developing a comprehensive and systematic evidence base for what does and does not work in terms of the broader learning, social and economic outcomes. It also represents a move away from a focus on the provider to a focus on effectiveness of teaching and research, wherever and however it may occur.

This baseline report presents what we know currently about the tertiary education system to the end of 2002 with regard to the TES. It is necessarily based on existing information. Over the coming year, I expect new and emerging information sources to enhance and enrich our understanding about the performance of the tertiary education system and the contribution it makes to New Zealand’s development. As new information becomes available, the monitoring reports will cover more of the aspects articulated in the TES.

This report represents a significant piece of work. The development of the monitoring framework has had input from a wide range of people in government agencies and sector representative groups, iwi, Māori, and Pasifika community representatives.

I would like to thank those who have contributed to the development of the framework and the report and we look forward to your continuing engagement with this project.

Howard Fancy
Secretary for Education

← Foreword by the Associate Minister of Education | Home Page | The Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) →

• Table of Contents

• The Baseline Picture

• Cross Strategy Indicators

• Raise foundation skills

• Skills for our knowledge society

• Strengthen research and knowledge creation

• Te rautaki mātauranga Māori

• Pacific people’s development and success

• Capability and quality

• Technical and Data Definitions