Massey-led consortium wins bid to secure the future for the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence

The Tertiary Education Commission has confirmed that a consortium led by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University in partnership with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Pūkenga has been successful in its bid to continue to host the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence (NCTTE) for the next three years.

The consortium will reposition Ako Aotearoa in a changed tertiary education and training context in Aotearoa New Zealand. Support from new consortium partners Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (led by Dr Shireen Maged, Deputy Chief Executive (Teaching and Learning) and Dr Rebecca Kiddle, Director, Te Manawahoukura) and Te Pūkenga (led by Diane Lithgow, Ako Network Director: Services and Paora Ammunson, Deputy Chief Executive Tiriti Outcomes) ­­has been vital to the success of the bid. The fresh approach offers representation of the entire public tertiary sector with stronger emphasis on diversity and inclusivity.

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes has overseen the development and delivery of the bid together with Dr Kiddle and Ms Lithgow. The university has proudly hosted Ako Aotearoa since 2006 and Professor Byrnes sees enormous advantages for the sector; with the new consortium arrangement to assist the NCTTE to amplify its influence, harness innovation, grow sector reach and champion equity.

“The NCTTE fund contributes directly to meeting both the Tertiary Education Strategy and Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) Strategy objectives for quality teaching and leadership. Under the TEC flagship programme for Ōritetanga Learner Success, the Massey University hosted NCTTE will have refreshed and new objectives to drive the way forward through this exciting new consortium partnership,” Professor Byrnes says.

Three high-level objectives drive an exciting way forward for the refreshed NCTTE:

1. To promote excellence in teaching across the tertiary sector
2. To align excellence in tertiary teaching with successful learner outcomes
3. To demonstrate Te Tiriti principles.

Dr Kiddle says the partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further develop Mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori approaches to pedagogy, teaching and learning expertise.

“This consortium offers an opportunity for the tertiary sector to role model best practice Tiriti partnership to support positive outcomes for Māori tauira in particular, and others who are currently underserved by the tertiary sector. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa brings decades of experience in ako approaches that are driven by Kaupapa Māori,” she says.

Ms Lithgow says Te Pūkenga, the largest tertiary entity with full national reach, will bring its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a strong focus on equity and participation.

"Its teaching capability goals, including in work-based learning, expertise in online education and strong links to employers will support the NCTTE development and delivery of its high-quality programmes and services to the sector.”

The NCTTE fund provides $3.556m (excluding GST) per year to deliver a National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence that works in partnership with Tertiary Education Organisations (TEO) to:

• Build teaching capability of TEOs and educators
• Commission and conduct research, monitoring and evaluation about effective teaching
• Provide associated advice to the sector and government agencies
• Administer the Tertiary Teaching Awards.

The new contract with TEC commences on 1 July 2023, with the consortium partners working together on the first steps in the implementation of the new three-year plan.