Source: Tertiary Education Commission
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape Workforce Development Councils and ensure they take a lead in making New Zealand’s workforce fit for today and the future.
Please note this Expression of Interest process is not about establishing any particular WDC. It is about looking at the best way for WDCs to operate, regardless of the industries they represent.
Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) are a key component of the Reform of Vocational Education
The Reform of Vocational Education vision is to create a strong, unified and sustainable system for all vocational education that delivers the skills that learners, employers and communities need to thrive. A key element to achieving this is making sure industry voice has a strong influence on the vocational education sector.
WDCs will contribute to this by:
Providing skills and workforce leadership for the industries they represent. This includes identifying current and future needs and advocating for those needs to be met
Developing qualifications, setting standards, and moderating assessments
Providing vocational education investment advice to the Government
Endorsing provider programmes
Promoting the benefits of educating employees to employers.
Six WDCs will be created for this purpose.
Read more information on the Reform of Vocational Education programme and WDCs, including industry coverage areas.
Each WDC will be created through a staged approach, supported by the WDC design process
Each WDC will be established through a staged approach. The first stage is an industry led WDC Establishment Working Group which undertakes the activities required to establish the WDC as a legal entity. The second stage is a WDC Establishment Board which undertakes the activities required to fully establish the WDC to the point where it is fully operational.
The WDC design process will support this approach by generating operating model design options and recommendations to inform WDC establishment. It will also consider the processes and capabilities required to carry out a WDC’s functions.
WDC Establishment Boards are the main customers of the WDC design process. They will use the design process products to make final decisions on WDC design.
More information on the establishment of specific WDCs will be coming soon.
Two groups will be formed to deliver the WDC design process:
The Design Group
The Reference Group
The Design Group and the Reference Group contribute to different parts of the design process.
The Design Group, consisting of skills based participants and subject matter experts, will create initial design options and advice.
The Reference Group, consisting of a wide group of stakeholders including currently underserved learner groups, employers, industry representatives, unions, providers and senior leaders, will test and refine the Design Group’s initial products to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Products of the WDC design process will include:
Descriptions of the functions a WDC is legislatively required to deliver, and the processes, skills, and capabilities required to deliver them
WDC operating model options, including operating principles, options for shared services, and approaches to cross WDC collaboration
We are looking for a good balance of skills and experience in the Design and Reference groups.
For both groups we are looking for people who are:
Future-focussed thinkers
Good communicators
Innovative and visionary
Collaborative
Participants on the Design Group will be selected based on their skills and expertise and the contexts in which they developed these.
Participants on the Reference Group will be selected based on their ability to bring a wider perspective to the design products.
Capabilities and experience we are seeking for each group are detailed in the table below.
Design Group
Reference Group
Capabilities and experience
Service and organisation design expertise
Knowledge of the vocational education sector
Knowledge of qualification design, standard setting, and programme development
Understanding of what is required to create a successful organisation
Understanding of current and possible future labour market trends and their impact on skill requirements
Experience in the collection and analysis of data from multiple sources to inform strategies and plans
Experience in identifying opportunities and/or implementing the delivery of ‘shared services’ between organisations
Ability to bring a Māori perspective
A mix of people ability to provide the following perspectives in the context of the vocational education sector, including:
Employers
Providers
Industry
Unions
Māori
Pacific Peoples,
Other currently underserved learner groups
Note: People cannot be on both the Design Group and the Reference Group
The Design Group and the Reference Group will meet separately on a 3 – 4 week basis
Meetings will held as follows:
Group
Design Group
Reference Group
Number of meetings
9 half to full day workshops
6 full day workshops
Location
TBC – location will be based on where the majority of participants are located
TBC – location will be based on where the majority of participants are located
Frequency
Held 3-weekly on a Thursday
Held monthly, but with varying frequency, on a Thursday
Dates
March 26
April 16
May 7
May 28
June 18
July 9
July 30
August 20
September 10
April 30
May 21
June 11
July 2
August 13
September 3
Responsibilities of the Design Group members
Attend Design Group workshops.
Provide business, industry, subject matter, and vocational education expertise to develop the design deliverables.
Actively contribute to the development of each design deliverable.
Review and provide feedback on draft design deliverables before they are considered by the Reference Group.
Responsibilities of the Reference Group members
Attend Reference Group workshops
Review draft design deliverables provided by the Design Group prior to Reference Group meetings
Provide business, industry, subject matter, and vocational education expertise to test, refine and finalise the design deliverables
Actively contribute to finalising each deliverable so that it is ready for WDC Establishment Boards.
As a general principle, participants employed by key stakeholder organisations should continue to be paid by their employer while participating in the design process. Reasonable expenses for travel, accommodation and food will be covered by TEC.
There is a simple process to express your interest in being involved in the WDC design process
1. Click here to complete the Expression of Interest form (Word, 36 Kb)
2. You will be able to indicate whether you wish to be considered for the Design Group, Reference Group, or both.
Please send us your Expression of Interest by 12pm, 24 February 2020. We will let you know the outcome in early March.
