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More Polytechnics have lined up to
address their region’s skill shortages and will receive support
from the Labour Progressive Coalition Government through the
Polytechnic Regional Development Fund.
Regional and Industry Development Minister, Jim Anderton and
Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education), Steve Maharey
today announced the results of the second round of funding under the
Polytechnic Regional Development Fund.
“I am pleased to see seven more polytechnics and institutes of
technology will be working more actively to address local skill and
development priorities working with local industries and businesses.
A key factor in today’s announcements is that some of the funding
will contribute to key nationwide priority industries including
biotechnology, information and computer technology, and wood
processing,” said Jim Anderton.
Tairawhiti Polytechnic, the Western Institute of Technology,
Whitireia Community Polytechnic, WELTEC, Otago Polytechnic, Waikato
Institute of Technology and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, will all
receive funding which together amounts to $1,068,000. This is in
addition to nine proposals totalling $1,304,189 approved for the
2002/2003 year under the fund in 2002.
“This commitment by polytechnics and institutes of technology
shows that they are key drivers for regional growth and have a vital
role in regional economic development,” said Steve Maharey.
The Coalition Government provided $1 million in 2002/2003 and $2
million in both 2003/04 and 2004/05 for this programme. The maximum
grant for any one application is $300,000 (GST inclusive). Industry
New Zealand administers the fund and oversee a two-step process for
allocating the grants.
Applications were analysed by Industry New Zealand’s Regional
Offices in conjunction with TEC and the Ministry of Education’s
Tertiary Advisory Monitoring Unit.
All applications were considered by the Regional Partnerships
Programme Assessment Panel which is chaired by Industry New Zealand
and includes representatives from the Ministry of Economic
Development, Te Puni Kokiri, Skill NZ, and two independent members.
The next funding round is in November 2003.
Regional Polytechnic Development Fund approvals in this round:
· Tairawhiti Polytechnic - $81,500 to explore ways of meeting
education/training needs for primary production with emphasis on
organics.
· Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki - $300,000 to create
a Centre of Applied Engineering that is nationally and
internationally recognised as a leader in its field.
· Whitireia Community Polytechnic (Porirua) - $ 78,500 to support
the ICT industry in Wellington region and assist ICT graduates find
relevant employment or create new businesses.
· Wellington Institute of Technology (WELTEC) $152,000 to conduct
an analysis of the skills needed by companies in the
creative/specialist manufacturing sector so that current employers
can build on advanced design and manufacturing technologies and
business processes.
· Otago Polytechnic - $90,000 to undertake an extensive skills
audit of current and future education, training and information
needs of Central Otago industries, in particular viticulture,
winemaking, horticulture, tourism & hospitality. Develop and/or
modify Polytechnic courses to bridge the identified skills gaps, and
provide an education resource centre.
· Bay of Plenty Polytechnic – Wood Processing Strategy - Road
Transport Project: - The wood processing industry has identified a
shortage of truck drivers. The grant of $114,200 seeks to help
address the shortage in the Central North Island and Eastern Bay of
Plenty by investigating developing training programmes for transport
managers and new entrant truck drivers. The programmes will enhance
the ability of the regional transport industry to recruit, train and
retain quality staff.
· Bay of Plenty Polytechnic – Aquaculture and Marine Research –
$115,000 to set up a Pacific Coast Research Centre. The centre will
analyse and evaluate marine, fisheries and aquaculture activities.
· Waikato Institute of Technology – ICT Sector - E-Commerce
Centre project - $137,400 to establish an e-commerce centre in Te
Kuiti that will assist local business to make the most use of
e-commerce.
Contact: Sam Fisher [Anderton press secretary] 021 714 209 or 04 471
9289
Michael Gibbs [Maharey press secretary] 021 270 9115 or 04 471 9154
Funding Approvals announced in December 2002:
· Waikato Institute of Technology
$24,000 was approved to develop a business case for an E commerce
centre.
· Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawkes Bay)
$300,000 was approved to develop an Information Centre, where
industry, tourists, students and the general public can come to find
out what is happening in the food industry in the Hawkes Bay. This
will contribute to the major regional initiative developed through
the region’s Regional Partnership Programme.
· Whitireia (Porirua)
$100,000 was approved to establish an arts and music workshop, and
to investigate developing a virtual reality lab, identify creative
industries business opportunities and support youth innovation and
entrepreneurship projects.
· Open Polytechnic, Whitireia, and WELTEC (Wellington)
$211,689 was approved to a consortium including the Open
Polytechnic, Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Wellington
Institute of Technology to support and develop optics and optical
science engineering.
· Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
$190,000 was approved to the Nelson Marlborough Institute of
Technology to develop an education and training curriculum for the
seafood industry.
· Tai Poutini Polytechnic (West Coast)
$115,500 was approved for Tai Poutini Polytechnic for a mining
initiative that will assist the development of mining education and
training programmes in Reefton. $210,000 for an eco-tourism
initiative that will the support the development of a Centre for
Eco-tourism.
· Aoraki Polytechnic (Timaru)
$47,000 was approved for the Aoraki Polytechnic to create a ‘one
stop shop’ for businesses in the South Canterbury region. The
centre will provide a broad range of business advice.
· Telford Rural Polytechnic (Balclutha)
$61,000 was approved to Telford Rural Polytechnic to develop a
programme to assist farmers to make the greatest advantage of
soil/climate-mapping.
· Otago Polytechnic
$55,000 was approved to Otago Polytechnic to establish programmes
for tourism business in the Waitaki District.
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