New partnership links education pathways to economic opportunities
An agreement that will strengthen the links between education and training to employment, workforce capability, and economic opportunities across Te Tai Tokerau Northland, was signed today (Tuesday 1 September) between NorthTec and Northland NZ representatives.
Te Ara Whakamua (The Path Forward) was signed by Northland NZ CEO, Paul Linton, and NorthTec Operational Lead, Derek Slatter, to recognise that the future success of Northland depends on growing and retaining local talent, supporting employers and industries, and ensuring learners have access to quality pathways that lead to employment, enterprise and leadership.
“This agreement is about linking the economy, education, workforce development, and job creation to ensure our young people have the skills they need to get the jobs that are created,” said Paul Linton, CEO of Northland’s economic development agency.
NorthTec enrols around 5000 students each year in Te Tai Tokerau and is a business division of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology with multiple campuses and learning centres throughout the region, including at Whangārei, Kaitāia and Ngāwhā.
Derek Slatter of NorthTec called the signing, “A commitment to work together to ensure it’s the people of Te Tai Tokerau who benefit from jobs in Te Tai Tokerau.”
The agreement with NorthTec is part of a strategy to increase prosperity in Te Tai Tokerau and follows a partnership formalised between Northland NZ and Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, in November last year. While the Waka Hourua (Heads of Agreement) signed with Massey University is also about strengthening education pathways, the focus of the agreement is on research, and innovation opportunities across Northland’s food and fibre sector.
The next stage of the strategy is a collaboration where all three organisations – the university, regional economic development agency, and Northland’s largest provider of tertiary and vocational education – work together to ensure education and training pathways are aligned to economic opportunities in the region.
Main photo - NorthTec Operational Lead, Derek Slatter and Northland NZ CEO, Paul Linton sign the Memorandum of Understanding at Te Puna o Te Mātauranga Marae at the NorthTec Raumanga campus in Whangārei.
