An alliance of tertiary education providers in Auckland (including four ITOs, the Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec), have been working with the construction and infrastructure industry to better align qualifications and skill sets taught with workforce needs.
“The tertiary education sector has not been as well connected to industry as it should be,” says Alliance development manager Graham Hodge.
“We need to ensure the qualifications are better aligned to future workforce needs and to do this we must listen closely and carefully to industry.”
Fletcher; Hawkins; Naylor Love Construction; Dominion Constructors Ltd; the NZ Transport Agency; and the Auckland Council are jointly sponsoring the roadmap, which will guide skills needed in construction and infrastructure for the next five years.
“Once, we find out what the industry needs, it’s up to us to deliver the right qualifications, the right skills,” says Hodge.
Auckland’s workforce roadmap sets a direction for others to follow.
“This collaboration is a great example of what one sector can achieve,” says Industry Training Federation (ITF) chief executive Mark Oldershaw.
“We’re asking government to ensure industry can lead the future of industry training. Then we can really bridge the skills gap and make more of a difference.”
The ITF is a voluntary membership organisation representing all of New Zealand’s industry training organisations
Industry, or work-based, training has gained momentum over recent years, with industry trainees or apprentices achieving 54,000 national qualifications annually.
“There is a massive pool of talent amongst the 70% of school leavers who do not attend university, and we’d like more young people to choose industry training,” says Oldershaw.
“But to make sure that the training results in jobs, it must be based on the job market.”
The ITF, which represents all 12 of New Zealand’s industry training organisations (ITOs) has released an open letter asking Government for a more cohesive, efficient industry training sector.
