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The TES is part of the tertiary education reforms aimed at creating a more coherent and collaborative tertiary education system. The reforms are aimed at ensuring that the system is better aligned to the nation’s goals and is actively identifying and meeting the needs of the communities it serves. The reforms are intended to change the culture of both tertiary education agencies and the sector as a whole. As part of this push, the reforms create a number of regulatory and resourcing changes.

The initial focus in the reforms was on developing new processes and infrastructure, and in particular, the establishment of the TEC. This has been followed by the implementation of new planning and accountability arrangements, which are now in place for all government-funded TEOs, and the development and implementation of funding mechanisms to reward quality and excellence in research and education.

Improved planning and accountability

Charters and profiles have now been implemented for all TEOs that receive public funding.

A charter is a high-level governance document that provides a broad description of a TEO's mission and role and the type of activities it undertakes. The TEC assessed a total of 528 charters in 2003. Of these, the Minister approved 523 and declined two, while three were found not eligible for government funding.

A profile is developed annually by a TEO and sets out plans and targets for the next three years, as well as reporting on recent performance. TEOs are required to specify the alignment of their strategic plans to the strategies and objectives of the TES, as well as specifying the activities for which they are seeking government funding through the TEC. In 2003, all TEIs and the 15 largest PTEs were required to submit an interim profile. In 2004, all government-funded TEOs were required to submit a full profile for the 2005 to 2007 period.

The integrated funding framework

Funding for teaching and learning

A Student Component Performance Measure will come into effect from 2006 and will put attention on improving quality in the poorest- performing TEOs. The measure is described in more detail in the section on Effective Teaching and Learning in Tertiary Eduction?.

Funding for research

The first quality evaluation for the PBRF was undertaken in 2003. Funding under the new approach will be implemented progressively, with implementation completed in 2007. The implementation and results of the PBRF are described in the section on Performance-Based Research Fund — implementation and quality evaluation results.

Targeted funding for strategic development

Strategic development funding has continued in the areas of e-learning, innovation and development and partnerships for excellence. A new ITP Business Links Fund was launched in 2004 to enhance knowledge transfer from polytechnics to industry.

← The State of Play -- the Tertiary Education System in 2003/04 | Home Page | Cross Strategy Indicators →

• Table of Contents

• The State of Play

• 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