The Central Economic Development Agency’s (CEDA) Chief Executive Linda Stewart has been appointed to a key leadership position to help shape the future of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST).
Ms Stewart has been named Chair of the Employer and Community Engagement Working Group, one of seven groups that have been set up by the IST Establishment Unit, to help it achieve its mandate of having the institute operational by April next year.
The NZIST is part of the changes to Reform of Vocational Education, announced by Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins in August.
“Education, knowledge and skills development is such an important part of growing and developing a productive and inclusive economy, especially in a world that is changing at such pace,” says Ms Stewart, who is also on the board of Economic Development New Zealand.
“I am proud to be leading the Employer and Community Engagement Working Group, which will ensure the voice and expertise of employers and our communities are involved in collectively shaping the future of vocational education in New Zealand. It is critically important to get this right.”
Linda Stewart, Chief Executive
The primary role of the seven working groups is to provide advice to the incoming permanent NZIST Council in April 2020, which will consider the suggestions and recommendations put to them from the working group, as they make future decisions.
The Chair of the IST Establishment Board Barry Jordan says co-designing the work programme outputs with wide ranging stakeholders and educators is an important foundation for the long-term sustainability of NZIST.
There were more than 500 nominations put forward to be involved in the working groups and each group will have 10 members.
“From the 500 nominations 76 people have been selected. We have achieved very good skills, experience and diversity in the final list,” he says.
The education sector, developing the skills and talent in Manawatū, and in this case nationally, and working closely with the private sector to understand their challenges, barriers to growth and future opportunities, are central pillars to CEDA’s work and commitment to achieving our vision of Manawatū being New Zealand’s most progressive region by 2025.
Chairs of the working groups are:
Employer and Community Engagement – Linda Stewart, Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA)
Student Journey Map – Debbie Preston, Wintec
Education Products and Services – Phil Ker, Otago Polytechnic
Work-based Learning Development – Fiona Kingsford, Competenz
New Academic Structure for the IST – Chris Collins, EIT
Online Arrangements – Phil Ker, Otago Polytechnic
International Education – Michelle Jordan, Venture Taranaki
The working group members (10 per working group) are in the process of being contacted to confirm their involvement.
For more information:
[email protected]
06 350 1830
