All through this collection, I’ve examined New Zealand’s vocational schooling reforms and the brand new Tertiary Schooling Technique that frames them. On this sixth article, I handle what’s maybe probably the most evident omission: a coherent strategy to lifelong studying.
Two Mentions, No Technique
The Tertiary Schooling Technique 2025-2030 talked about lifelong studying solely twice. The primary acknowledges rising demand from college students for lifelong studying choices. The second states that suppliers are anticipated to “adapt supply fashions to assist lifelong studying, together with via work-based, on-line, modular and work-integrated studying choices.”
This isn’t a method. It’s an aspiration with out structure.
The irony is that New Zealand really has some constructing blocks in place that with just a few edits, might work brilliantly. Our skills framework contains unit requirements and abilities requirements, discrete studying outcomes that may be taught independently, in addition to micro-credentials (1-40 credit) that may stack in the direction of bigger skills. Some work is required by NZQA to grasp the distinction between a ability customary and a micro-credential, however it’s one thing. New Zealand additionally has a Document of Achievement System. The system “is an official transcript of all of the New Zealand skills, microcredentials and requirements…achieved, as reported by NZQA-consented schooling suppliers and universities”. In research I had printed a number of months in the past, I proposed taking this method, increasing it and permitting it to be a system that learners can use for stacking and attending to undertake their lifelong studying journey utilizing a system of recognition throughout all schooling suppliers in New Zealand, recognised and trusted by employers.
So now we have modularity. Now we have flexibility. Now we have recognition techniques. What we lack is cohesion, coordination, and dedication.
The Worldwide Context
Internationally, lifelong studying has moved from coverage flourish to financial necessity.
Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative gives all residents with coaching credit and a complete course catalogue of almost 28,000 choices. Finland established a Service Centre for Steady Studying and Employment in 2023 to analyse competence wants and coordinate providers, an strategy the European Central Financial institution praised as exemplary.
Eire’s micro-qualifications system gives quick, stackable, accredited programmes for working adults, closely subsidised with versatile supply. Spain restructured its total vocational framework in 2022 to create modular pathways from micro-credentials via to full skills, making all coaching “accreditable, cumulative, and capitalisable.”
These techniques didn’t emerge organically. They required coverage frameworks, institutional infrastructure, funding mechanisms, and public consciousness campaigns. They required governments deciding lifelong studying mattered sufficient to construct precise techniques supporting it.
The Lacking Infrastructure
Based mostly on worldwide proof, what would a real lifelong studying technique require?
A nationwide coordination physique analysing labour market wants, funding applicable coaching, and offering steerage providers. Finland’s SECLE gives the mannequin. New Zealand has no equal, TEC funds provision and NZQA maintains the framework, however no physique ensures coherent lifelong studying pathways exist.
Built-in info techniques exhibiting all accessible programs with clear info on prices, funding, period, and supply modes. Singapore’s MySkillsFuture platform does this. New Zealand’s NZQA register lists skills however gives restricted info on precise supply.
Stackability and recognition frameworks enabling learners to build up credit in the direction of skills over prolonged durations. New Zealand does permit stacking inside its micro-credentials and a few skills, nonetheless the power to do that seamlessly, particularly between suppliers remains to be early days. Stacking seamlessly between vocational and better or greater and grownup – a real holistic lifelong studying schooling system, doesn’t exist but.
Funding mechanisms for grownup learners. Many worldwide techniques recognise that anticipating working adults to pay excessive prices creates insurmountable limitations. There are insurance policies in New Zealand to assist new learners, however loads much less for grownup studying. Many, if not all individuals might want to upskill or reskill, probably discover new areas to work in as some present job roles gained’t exist sooner or later. Making certain extra flexibility within the funding system, even simply enhancing the power to utilise pupil loans and pupil allowances in shorter items of schooling, may very well be sport changers.
The 2026 Alternative, Or Missed Alternative
Right here’s the irony: New Zealand is implementing one more main vocational reform. We’re creating eight Trade Abilities Boards, re-establishing regional polytechnics, creating new supplier networks. This huge disruption represents both a catastrophic waste if we recreate previous issues in new constructions, or a real alternative to construct one thing higher.
If, and it’s a giant if, the Authorities, TEC, NZQA, and ISBs selected to make lifelong studying a precedence, the 2026 reset might incorporate modular programme design as customary observe, enhanced NZQA performance storing all studying outcomes, clear course catalogues, systematic recognition of prior studying, and a stronger push to construct higher connections between all sorts of studying.
The infrastructure adjustments wanted aren’t radical. The framework exists. What’s required is will: political will to fund it correctly, institutional will to collaborate relatively than compete, and strategic will to design for learner wants relatively than organisational comfort.
The Value of Inaction
And not using a coherent lifelong studying technique, predictable penalties observe:
Workforce abilities mismatches will persist. The TES identifies that employers report graduates missing job-ready capabilities, however with out accessible upskilling pathways, abilities gaps will solely widen.
Regional inequalities will deepen. As polytechnics concentrate on monetary viability, regional centres will see decreased provision except on-line and distance studying is strategically developed.
Financial productiveness will lag. The technique’s concentrate on financial progress rings hole with out funding within the steady ability improvement that productiveness requires.
Fairness gaps will stay entrenched. Probably the most deprived learners want versatile, reasonably priced studying alternatives. With out deliberate system design supporting them, the TES’s fairness commitments stay aspirational.
The Political Actuality
New Zealand’s subsequent election will seemingly be September or October 2026. The subsequent 12 months due to this fact, characterize a important window. Will this Authorities, having disrupted vocational schooling after arguing towards the primary restructure (ROVE) while in opposition, spend money on constructing coherent lifelong studying infrastructure?
The constructing blocks exist. The worldwide proof is obvious. The coverage problem isn’t that technical, it’s political. It requires somebody in authorities deciding lifelong studying isn’t just a pleasant phrase for technique paperwork, however a precedence worthy of precise sources, coordination, and dedication.
Till that occurs, New Zealand’s strategy to lifelong studying will stay what it’s right this moment: an aspiration with out structure, a necessity with no technique, and a possibility systematically squandered.
By Stuart G A Martin, Founding father of George Angus Consulting.
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