Following industry feedback in August on proposals for work-based learning, the government has developed a third option and will hold targeted consultation in January 2025, with those industry organisations that have provided feedback prior, on this new Option C, as well as Option B from the previous proposals.

Option B: The option provided in the August consultation establishing Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) with the added function of providing industry advice, with Work-Based Learning divisions transitioned into some sort of provider like a Private Training Establishment (PTE).

Option C (new): Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) would be set up, undertaking the functions of WDCs including standard setting, investment advice, qualification development. They will also undertake Work-Based Learning functions of national coordination for specific industries and pastoral care. The other functions of enrolments and educational components, such as assessments would be through Institute of Technology and Polytechnics, Private Training Establishments and Wānanga.

To read more about the changes go to our VET Review page here.

Connexis enrolments and services will continue as normal in 2025 and we will work to minimise disruption to any training or apprenticeship programmes or the learning support we provide through our Customer Service Account Managers (CSAMs).

The post Government announces future of industry training appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

Te Pūkenga is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest tertiary education provider, bringing together nine Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITOs) and 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.

“As the infrastructure division of Te Pūkenga you will see that our name reflects our new structure, Connexis | Te Pūkenga, and our colours are changing as we incorporate Te Pūkenga branding,” says Director Kaarin Gaukrodger.

“We might look a little different, but our focus is the same – to upskill New Zealand’s infrastructure workforce. This is an exciting time, and we are glad to bring you on the journey with us as we embrace the opportunities Te Pūkenga brings across our wider network of on-job, on-campus, and online learning opportunities.”

The Te Pūkenga executive structure has been confirmed:

Peter Winder (Tumuaki | Chief Executive Officer), Keri-Anne Tane (Pourangi Tangata | Chief People Officer), Teresa Pollard (Pourangi Matihiko | Chief Digital Officer), Michelle Teirney (Pourangi Pūtea | Chief Financial Officer), Dr Megan Gibbons (Pourangi Mātauranga me ngā Pūnaha Ako | DCE Academic Centre and Learning Systems), Gus Gilmore (Pourangi Ako | DCE Ako Delivery), Andrew McSweeney (Pourangi Ākonga me te Ahumahi | DCE Learner and Employer Experience and Attraction), Paora Ammunson (Pourangi Hua Tiriti | DCE Tiriti Outcomes), Ziena Jalil (Pourangi Kaimahi | Chief of Staff). Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti (Pourangi Pūnaha me ngā Panonitanga | Interim DCE Strategy and Transformation) while the process to appoint a permanent leader is completed.

The post Connexis officially part of Te Pūkenga appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

Te Pūkenga brings the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and the arranging training activities of certain Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) together to create a national network. This will give learners more choices and flexibility in what, where, and how they learn.

Existing infrastructure business and WBL ākonga (learners) will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga automatically in the same qualification and will continue to learn in the same way, in the same place, with the same people.

Learners should note that all programmes offered across Te Pūkenga are under review to ensure they are portable, consistent and aligned with the needs of industry and may be changed. Where there are changes to programmes that you have applied to enrol in, you will be notified of these changes.

The post Connexis is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga) appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

AN IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING: CONNEXIS 2023 PRICING SCHEDULE

With the government ending the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship fund (TTAF) on the 31st December 2022, Connexis will resume charging fees from 1 January 2023 in line with TEC funding requirements. 

You will note that we have made a change to the management of our learner’s training programme, which is reflected in our 2023 fee structure.

When TTAF was released in 2020, we made a significant change to our service-level approach.  In response to TTAF, we packaged up all fees associated with enrolment and completion of a training programme, and these were on charged to TEC.

We are continuing this approach with all costs included in enrolling and completing a training programme, including assessment and block courses, now included within our fee structure. This approach provides increased certainty around total cost for a learner to enrol and complete a training programme. We know our employers have been asking for more certainty around these costs at time of enrolment to assist with managing their training budget.

 Key points to note: 

• Connexis will manage all third-party fees for external contract assessment and off-job training, where applicable. This means that from the start of 2023, all learner training fees are paid directly to Connexis.  
• Connexis will be responsible for payment to third party providers keeping the process simplified for you and your business. In addition, Connexis will also be taking more responsibility for managing the quality of provision being provided.   
• Our new pricing structure allows fees to be paid over two years, whereby the programme is longer than 15 months and where fees are $3000 or more.
• We have made provision for those employers that operate an in-house assessment model. If an additional external assessor is needed to assist your in-house assessor, additional fees will apply.

Overall Connexis fees are not changing significantly. What you will receive now, is greater upfront visibility of the full cost of training as we now include third-party fees you were previously managing and paying separately. 

Exclusions / Exceptions: 

• Incidental costs such as travel and accommodation for block courses are not covered by the fees paid to Connexis.

Current learners continuing into 2023
For your current learners carrying on their training programmes into 2023, Connexis will calculate the 2023 fee on a pro-rate basis.
 
This calculation of fees is based on the duration of the programme, and the number of months remaining of training in 2023.
 
What this means for your learners:

• Learners that are due to carry on training programmes into 2023, we will send you a notification by early December advising you of the transition fee to be paid. 
• For those of you who run a purchase order system, this notification will also include a request for a PO number.  This is so that we can include this in our invoicing in early 2023.
• We will be delaying the invoicing for all learners that are nearing completion (less than 20 credits to achieve in January 2023), to give learners who are almost complete a chance to do so without incurring further fees.
• For all other current learners that are due to carry on training programmes into 2023, invoices will be sent in Q1 of 2023.

Fees Free
We are expecting that Fees Free will be available to eligible learners in 2023, however, the conditions around eligibility will not be released by TEC until sometime in November. We will notify you as soon as we have more details.

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In August Te Pūkenga engaged on Tā tātou huarahi | Our pathway: Te Pūkenga organisational direction and design. Through this process, almost 3,000 pieces of feedback was received both from our kaimahi (staff) and external stakeholders. The decisions from this have been shared across our Te Pūkenga network and you can view these on the Te Pūkenga website  Engagement | Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (tepukenga.ac.nz)

The leadership structure announcement is part of the planned establishment pathway for Te Pūkenga, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and represents the next phase of organisational design based on a formal consultation process undertaken earlier in the year. 

The confirmed design delivers a leadership structure designed to ensure the ongoing support of vocational and applied teaching and learning across the rōpū as we transition to a unified education provider.

While Te Pūkenga moves into the next phase of establishment, we at Connexis are committed to continuing our service uninterrupted to our employers and learners.

Thank you to those who took the time to share their thoughts through the most recent engagement process.

If you have any questions on how these changes may impact you or your organisation please contact askus@connexis.org.nz 

Connexis hosting industries previously serviced by Skills Org TITO

On Monday 3rd October, Connexis were part of the Te Pūkenga pōwhiri hosted at Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at MIT in Auckland (MIT Marae) welcoming Skills kaimahi into Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning (WBL).

In total 95 kaimahi (staff) from Skills have transitioned to Te Pūkenga with around 2000 employers nationally and annually around 5,000 workplace apprentices and trainees across the motu. Connexis will be home to 88 kaimahi, along with employers and learners that have transitioned across to Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning, with a small number from the services industry transitioning into ServiceIQ Division.

We are continuing to work with the WBL transition team, with our focus to support the new team in settling in and ensuring they have the resources and systems available so their service to their industries, employers and learners continues smoothly throughout the transition phase.   

Ngā mihi

Kaarin Gaukrodger
Director
Connexis

The post Update on Te Pūkenga executive structure and organisational direction appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

The awards recognise employers who have embedded training across their businesses, creating career pathways for their workers, and improving capabilities in the civil industry.

Congratulations to our finalists:

Winners will be announced at the award ceremony at the CCNZ conference on the 5th of August.

To read more about the nomination process earlier in the year, click here.

The post Civil Industry Award Finalists Announced appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

Te Pūkenga is a new organisation that combines the 16 polytechnics from across the motu with some Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITOs) to create a new vocational education system in New Zealand (called the Reform of Vocational Education or RoVE).

As you may be aware, Connexis joined a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga called Work Based Learning Limited (WBL) on 1 September 2021.

Te Pūkenga would like your input into how it will organise itself in the future and invites you to an online workshop to gather your feedback on its proposed Operating Model.

The workshop for Connexis learners, as well as learners from TITOs, is being held on Thursday 4 November from 6pm to 8pm.

Attendance is entirely optional and this is not part of your Connexis training programme.  It will not count toward any credit completion.

However, all participants will go into the draw to win a $2,000 technology learner support pack, provided by Te Pūkenga.

See below for links to a video that explains the proposed Operating Model, to the Te Pūkenga website, and to register for the workshop.

The post Invitation to online learner workshop appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

The Workforce Development Council websites are now live following the transition of standard setting functions from TITOs yesterday (4 October 2021).

Below are some useful links:

• Ohu Mahi is the overarching WDC website, where all six WDC sites are accessible from: https://www.ohumahi.nz/
• From there you can be redirected to any of the six WDCs. Infrastructure falls under Waihanga Ara Rau: https://www.waihanga.nz/

Within the Waihanga Ara Rau site, there are also provider and employer links and a general contact page that may be useful to you or your industry contacts.

• Employer link: https://www.waihanga.nz/for-industry/
• Provider link: https://www.waihanga.nz/for-providers-including-schools/
• Contact page: https://www.waihanga.nz/contact-us/

Please take some time to familiarise yourself with these sites.

Bear in mind these are still under development and there may be the opportunity to feedback on their content. If you see anything that doesn’t look right or could be improved to better reflect our industries or explain the standard setting functions we have transferred, please let Marketing know: marketing@connexis.org.nz.

The post WDC wesbites now live appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

Welcome to the bold new world of vocational education! 

As of Wednesday 1 September 2021, our brand, arranging training functions, and most of our people, have transferred to Te Pūkenga subsidiary Work Based Learning Limited (WBL). Connexis is now a separately branded business division within WBL. Read more about Connexis’ shift into WBL. 

By moving early to transition, our focus can now be on the development of the new operating model for Te Pūkenga and working with the establishment team to ensure the new model best services our employers and learners engaged in industry training.  

Engagement on the early design of the Te Pūkenga Operating Model is beginning in October. Employers are being invited to get involved. Please see below for more details.

We are looking forward to continuing our work with you to provide industry training that is more responsive to your needs, and that is accessible and flexible for both learners and employers. Thank you for your continued support, and for continuing to invest in industry training and in a skilled up infrastructure workforce. 

Ngā mihi nui, 

Kaarin Gaukrodger 
Director
Connexis – a business division of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Ltd 

Te Pūkenga operating model engagement in October  

Te Pūkenga is preparing to engage with employers, learners, industry associations, iwi, staff and other stakeholders involved in vocational education on the design of its operating model. The engagement will run from 5-26 October. 

This phase of the operating model will focus on outcomes, including the learner and employer experience and how Te Tiriti o Waitangi will be imbedded into the new organisation. It will not cover organisational structure. 

The engagement will include detailed information as well as summaries and fact sheets. 

Te Pūkenga is also inviting all employers to join an online briefing with Warwick Quinn, Te Pūkenga DCE Employer Journey and Experience. There will be five identical sessions on:

• Monday 18th October: 4:00pm – 5:15pm
• Tuesday 19th October: 12:00pm – 1:15pm 
• Tuesday 19th October: 4:00pm – 5:15pm
• Thursday 21 October: 12:00pm – 1:15pm
• Thursday 21 October: 4:00pm – 5:15pm

See here for more details.

Feedback will be collected through Te Pūkenga Citizenlab online engagement platform.

Standard Setting readies for move into Workforce Development Councils 

From 4 October 2021, responsibility for qualifications development, pre- and post-moderation, consent to assess, and programme endorsement for the infrastructure industries will move from Connexis to the new Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council (WDC).  

Click here to find out more about the transition of the following functions to Waihanga Ara Rau: 

• Qualifications and standards 
• Consistency reviews 
• Interim programme support 
• National external moderation  
• Consent to assess  
• Consent and moderation requirements  

If you have any questions prior to 4 October 2021, please email info@wdc.nz.

Connexis will continue to: 

• Arrange on-job training programmes for workplaces in the infrastructure sectors; 
• Train, support and moderate industry assessors; 

• Keep learning and assessment resources up-to-date and relevant; 
• Offer opportunities for pathways into infrastructure careers through Gateway programmes, Girls with Hi-Vis® events, the iJobsite recruitment platform, and more; 
• Run events and initiatives to support, promote and raise the profile of our industries, including Annual Connection and Ulitmit: Women in Infrastructure. 
  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact askus@connexis.org.nz or 0800 486 626 

Waihanga Ara Rau takes shape with strong infrastructure representation 

We are glad to confirm that important knowledge and experience of infrastructure industry training will be present in the leadership team of Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council (WDC).

Connexis Group Manager Learning Solutions Mike Grumball has been named as General Manager (GM) Assurance for Waihanga Ara Rau.  

Three other GMs have also been announced: 

• Catriona Petrie, General Manager Qualifications System Product 

• Mark Williams, General Manager Strategy and Insights 
• Vanessa Delegat, General Manager Equity and Partnerships 

Read more about these appointments and see GM bios. 

Other Connexis team members will be transferring across to Waihanga Ara Rau to share their knowledge and expertise with the new organisation. Here is a roundup of their new roles: 

• Ashley Chisholm (Connexis Quality Assurance Manager) moving to Relationship Management Lead 

• Karen Drummond (Connexis Quality Assurance Advisor) moving to Moderation Lead 
• Cheryl Rosenquist (Connexis Quality Assurance Administrator) moving to Moderation Administrator 
• Michele Miller (Connexis Qualifications Developer) moving to Qualifications System Product Analysts 
• Marie Cross (Connexis Qualifications Developer) moving to Qualifications System Product Analysts 
• Sue Hawkins (Connexis Customer Service Account Manager) moving to Relationship Manager 
• Natasha Riches (Connexis Customer Service Account Manager) moving to Relationship Manager 

Newly appointed Waihanga Ara Rau Chief Executive Philip Aldridge also has an infrastructure background, having headed Infratrain before it merged with ESITO to become Connexis. Read more here. 

Find out more about WDC appointments on the TEC website.

Simplifying qualifications: Findings of NZQA consultation 

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has announced a strategy for simplifying vocational education qualifications and other credentials.

The decisions came out of consultation, held earlier this year, with iwi, Industry Training Organisations, training providers, learners, employers, and other stakeholders.   

This review is central to helping achieve some of the core goals of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE), including creating clearer skills pathways and more flexibility for learners to move between providers, regions and modes of delivery. 

The key decisions include: 

• Allowing WDCs (as well as providers) to develop micro-credentials, replacing Training Schemes with micro-credentials, and formally including micro-credentials on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. 
• WDCs will have the option of allowing multiple provider programmes to be developed against a qualification or to lead the development of a ‘national curriculum’ alongside providers. WDC-developed skills standards will become the building blocks for all provider delivery.  

The summary of consultation feedback and detailed information about the reforms is now available on the NZQA website.  

NZQA will be hosting an information session on the decisions made and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. You can register now: 

• Tuesday 5 October, 2-3pm 

If you have any other questions about these reforms please contact VQconsult@nzqa.govt.nz. 

New guidelines for classroom learning in Alert Levels 2 and 3 

The guidelines for Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) have been updated since Auckland’s move to Alert Level 3 on 22 September. 

The key changes for TEOs operating in Alert Level 3 (Auckland and Upper Hauraki) are: 

• Any class or workshop that cannot be delivered online and remains open should be limited to 10 people or less. 
• Face coverings are strongly recommended for on-site learning. 
• At-risk and vulnerable people (or those caring for/ living with vulnerable people) should not be required to carry out on-site learning unless they are fully vaccinated. 
• Students in an Alert Level 3 area are not permitted to return to their primary home or place of residence in an Alert Level 2 area unless they have an exemption from the Director-General of Health. 

The updated advice for TEOs operating in Alert Level 2 (rest of the country) are: 

• Capacity limits for large teaching and learning spaces of a maximum of 200 staff and students, with physical distancing of 1-metre, are strongly recommended.  
• Face coverings are strongly recommended for students and staff in teaching and learning spaces. 

For all the information and the most up-to-date advice, click here.

RoVE survey: Te Pūkenga transition was smooth from a learner/ employer prespective 

Thank you to all our employers and learners who completed the survey we put out in August to gauge how informed you are feeling about RoVE. We had a good response from both groups, with pleasing results. 

Most employer and learner respondents agreed Connexis has continued to be responsive throughout this year of transition and felt RoVE has had little to no impact on our service levels. 80% of employers said there was no or only a minor impact on Connexis’ service levels. The remaining employer respondents said there was a moderate impact. 85% of learners rated little to no impact on our service levels due to RoVE. 

It was clear that more employers than learners felt informed about the RoVE programme and the changes to vocational education. Sixty-six per cent of employers felt “somewhat informed” or “very informed” about RoVE, compared to 44% of learners. This result was expected. Employers take the responsibility to sign-up their employees and cover training costs, making them necessarily more engaged than learners in the broader training environment. 

From our conversations with industry, we understand some employers consider it too early to take a view on the benefits RoVE will deliver for industry training. This explains why 41% of employers said they expected it to have no impact. Learners were more optimistic, with 48% saying they expected a positive impact.

RoVE will bring new opportunities in industry training, and we look forward to keeping you informed and involved as the new system is developed and refined.

The post RoVE Bulletin #7 appeared first on Connexis | Infrastructure Training.

As part of the government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE), Waihanga Ara Rau will be the vocational education standard setting body for infrastructure sector unit standards and qualifications.

Connexis and Waihanga Ara Rau will work closely together to ensure a seamless service to our industry.

Click here to find out more about the transition of the following functions to Waihanga Ara Rau:

• Qualifications and standards
• Consistency reviews
• Interim programme support
• National external moderation
• Consent to assess
• Consent and moderation requirements

If you have any questions prior to 4 October 2021, please email info@wdc.nz  After 4 October 2021, please refer to the WDC websites via: www.ohumahi.nz

What is not changing:

Connexis will continue to:

• Arrange on-job training programmes for workplaces in the infrastructure sectors;
• Train, support and moderate industry assessors;
• Keep learning and assessment resources up-to-date and relevant;
• Offer opportunities for pathways into infrastructure careers through Gateway programmes, Girls with Hi-Vis® events, the iJobsite recruitment platform, and more;
• Run events and initiatives to support, promote and raise the profile of our industries, including Annual Connection and Ulitmit: Women in Infrastructure.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact askus@connexis.org.nz or 0800 486 626

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