About the new strategy#

Today, ministers Shane Reti and Penny Simmonds released a new Tertiary Education Strategy for 2025-2030.  

The strategy focuses the tertiary education system on enabling people to succeed while contributing to economic growth, productivity, and innovation. It also provides clear priorities for Tertiary Education Commission funding decisions.

The 5 priorities for the tertiary education system#

Achievement#

Ensure students and trainees gain skills that lead to good careers and economic security, with a focus on strong pathways between school, tertiary education, and work.

Economic impact and innovation #

Increase the economic impact of tertiary education by delivering relevant, adaptable skills, and research that drives productivity, innovation, commercialisation, and broader economic opportunities.

Access and participation#

Enable access to education and training for people from all backgrounds and regions, ensuring more people build relevant skills throughout their lives that contribute to a productive economy.

Integration and collaboration#

Deepen collaboration between education providers, employers, iwi, research institutions, and communities to align education with regional and national economic development.

International education#

Boost numbers of international students, supporting the sector to grow and increasing New Zealand’s international connectivity, as set out in the International Education Going for Growth Plan.

Strengthening the university system#

The strategy is a key part of Minister Reti’s reforms to strengthen the university system, and his reform of the Science, Innovation and Technology system.

Alongside these, the vocational education and training system redesign is well-advanced. Te Pūkenga is being replaced by a network of regional polytechnics and Workforce Development Councils are being replaced with Industry Skills Boards.