PDF Schedule
8:15 am - 9:00 am Foyer

Arrival & Networking

9:00 am - 9:10 am Harbour View Room

Welcome

James Elliott
9:10 am - 9:55 am Harbour View Room

Featured Session 1, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister

Hon Penny Simmonds
9:55 am - 10:30 am Foyer

Morning Tea

10:30 am - 11:00 am Harbourview Room

Setting the Scene / Exhibitor Turbo Pitch

We are inviting all exhibitors to promote their brand directly to our conference delegates with a 45-second ‘turbo presentation’. This is based on the PechaKucha style of presenting by showing 3 slides, with a 15 second commentary for each slide, totalling 45 seconds.

James Elliott
11:00 am - 11:45 am Harbour View Room

Featured Session 2, Tertiary Education Commission - Chief Executive

Tim Fowler
11:45 am - 12:30 pm Harbour View Room

Breakout Session: Where is your leadership anchored?

There are a plethora of leadership models and courses available to us. They can focus on personality and behaviour, dealing with different situations, and getting your team aligned. At the ITENZ session, we're going to dig a bit deeper and explore foundational assumptions and mis representations about what business really is and how your conscious and unconscious beliefs about this influences the way you lead. You'll be encouraged to explore your own north star and create a ballast to stabilize your decisions and make leadership less stressful.

Jeremy Sole
11:45 am - 12:30 pm Orange Room

Breakout Session: Artificial Intelligence as a Tool in Course Content Design

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every industry, education is no exception. The education sector faces a dual challenge: educators and providers must navigate the changes, improvements, opportunities, and risks AI presents, while ensuring that education remains relevant, meets industry needs, and equips graduates with future-ready skills. This session will explore the critical role of AI in curriculum and course content design. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of AI technologies and their implications for education, examining how AI can revolutionise teaching and learning processes. The presentation will introduce various AI tools available to the education sector, offering a comparative analysis of their functionalities and benefits.

Matthew Dale
11:45 am - 12:30 pm Blue Room

Breakout Session: Going online! The process of strengthening tertiary teaching qualifications with online learning.

Even before COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle forced a seismic change in the landscape of tertiary education in Aotearoa, a diminishing number of learners were able to commit to the traditional classroom model of education and training. People Potential recognised that in order to increase enrolments, engagement and course completion, they needed to embrace blended learning to augment their traditional teaching provision, and turned to Pipi Learning for support and guidance. The process of developing online content for the newly updated NZ Certificate of Adult Tertiary Teaching (NZCATT) began by working together to identify the drivers behind the move online and creating a project framework: 1. Outcome: What is the eLearning for? 2. Audience: Who is the eLearning for? 3. Inclusivity: How can we include the most people? 4. Design: How can we engage the most people? 5. Accessibility: How can we reach the most people? Pipi helped People Potential to create an outline for the number of modules to support each section of the course, along with the content of each module. Pipi then used the project outline to create the first module iteration using Articulate 360. Each module had a three-stage review process, enabling both Pipi and People Potential to add, remove, rearranged or rewrite content to suit the course structure and content. Gaps in content could easily be identified and rectified as each module was developed, but it soon became clear that imagery was key to creating the vision for this suite of modules. Inclusivity was paramount for People Potential, and they embraced the opportunity to reflect the culture of their organisation in the images used throughout the modules.

Dr Elizabeth Asbury
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Foyer

Lunch

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Harbour View Room

Featured Session 3, Sliding Doors: Education and Productivity

The system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets. ConCOVE is changing the game and helping education shape a better future.

Katherine Hall
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Harbour View Room

Breakout Session: Incorporating Generative AI into Education: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Mission Ready has integrated generative AI in its Tech Career Accelerator education program since 2023. In this session, Alan provides an insightful exploration into the best practices and key learnings gained from the integration. Alan will detail the strategic deployment of generative AI tools within course curricula, focusing on identifying and leveraging AI to enhance learner engagement, and foster creative problem-solving. He will also discuss essential mindset shifts that educators can adopt to maximise the benefits of AI in education. Additionally, the session will deliver the latest updates on advancements in generative AI, ensuring that educators and management remain at the forefront of technological innovation. This part of the presentation is crafted to arm attendees with cutting-edge tools and knowledge, empowering them to effectively strategise the incorporation of these innovations into their educational environments.

Alan Kan
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Orange Room

Breakout Session: Leveraging technology to simplify compliance

The presentation will outline the current compliance obligations common to PTEs in New Zealand. We will then focus on the areas that QED has identified as either taking up significant amounts of internal resources for its clients or where the data is not recorded with sufficient detail or frequency to fully meet the regulatory requirements. We will then outline how a typical PTE might have a few key people using a manual system to deal with compliance and show the risks in this approach, especially in relation to capability building and business continuity. This will then be analysed to show the possible financial impact of the compliance regime on PTEs under normal and stressed scenarios, highlighting some of the risks that PTEs may be unaware of. We will look at how technology can be used to - Simplify manual processes - Reduce risk - Lower costs; and - Improve insights and process improvement Finally, we talk about our case study with Professional IQ College and how we brought QED’s expertise to bear to implement a comprehensive, digitised Compliance Assurance Programme (CAP), and what this meant for PIQ and how this can benefit other PTEs.

Tim Larkin
2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Blue Room

Breakout Session, Staying Ahead of the Curve: Agile Strategies for Rapid Market Response in the PTE sector

This is a dynamic panel discussion designed to share good practice and empower Private Training Establishments (PTEs). This event will explore actionable strategies PTEs can control and innovate to remain competitive in a fast-evolving market. Our expert panel will share insights highlighting practical approaches to enhancing adaptability, fostering innovation, and optimizing operations.

Giuliana Silveira
Dr Leonie Menzies
Sue Townshend
Craig Musson
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm Foyer

Afternoon Tea

3:45 pm - 4:15 pm Harbour View Room

Breakout Session: Tahatū – helping you to help your learners make informed career decisions

The TEC team will present a live demo of Tahatū, the new interactive careers website which TEC is developing in consultation with the education community, careers practitioners, students and whānau. Tahatū is the next generation of the current careers.govt.nz website, refreshing the best of its content, tools and functions. The team will walk participants through the new careers planning tool ‘Inspire me’ and introduce the suite of kaupapa Māori career ideas, where te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori are at their centre. The team will highlight the value of Tahatū in the current tertiary environment and how it connects NCEA subjects, qualifications and career ideas in one place to help learners make informed career decisions and discover the best way to get there.

Polly Martin-Case
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm Orange Room

Breakout Session: Te Wao Toi Whānui (The Toi Whānui Forest) - incorporating industry voice into digital workforce training

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council has released the first vocational workforce development plan for the digital technologies sector, Te Wao Toi Whānui. The plan, developed with qualitative engagement with industry, peak bodies, and consultation with providers, and supported with quantitative data, sets out two main actions and two main recommendations which have wide implications for training, particularly PTEs, who currently teach 50% of learners in the sector. The plan highlights the lack of diversity in the sector, the need for alternative training pathways, the need for more work-based learning opportunities, and alignment with industry demand. The actions include: 1. Toi Mai will review existing qualifications and develop new products to promote opportunities for work-based learning, foundation skills and flexibility in provision. 2. Toi Mai will set progressive workforce targets and improve quality of data sources to enable workforce mapping The recommendations include: 1. Facilitate growth of a diverse workforce through work-based learning and new delivery options. 2. Improve coordination of training and industry initiatives to achieve better outcomes. The presentation will discuss the findings and insights of the plan, and how Toi Mai will engage and work with providers to incorporate the insights as technology qualifications are reviewed.

Jenni Pethig
Tim Croft
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm Blue Room

Breakout Session: Work Integrated Learning: the key to vocational skills transformation and why this is not sufficiently valued by many educators, providers and policy makers.

The work integrated learning spectrum. The evolution away from work integrated learning in New Zealand tertiary provision and comparison with benchmark countries. Why work integrated learning is not 'arranging training' and thoughts on why much of the old industry training system was neither. Why the RoVE emphasis on work-based learning was on the right track and the risks in any significant policy reset. Personal observations on effective work integrated learning practice. Why do educators, providers and policy makers seem to find work integrated learning so hard? Some thoughts on how leaders and policy makers can overcome these barriers.

Tim Wilson
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm Harbour View Room

Featured Session: Ako Aotearoa, Driving lasting impact for and with our stakeholders to advantage Aotearoa New Zealand

Derek McCormack
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm The Oakroom, 17 Drake Street, Victoria Park Market, Freemans Bay

Offsite Networking and Awards function

8:15 am - 8:45 am Foyer

Arrival and Networking

8:45 am - 9:00 am Harbour View Room

Reflections on Day 1

James Elliott
9:00 am - 10:00 am Harbour View Room

Featured Session: Dr. Mahsa McCauley - Founder, She Sharp

Dr. Mahsa McCauley
10:00 am - 10:45 am Harbour View Room

Breakout Session: Workforce Development Councils Quality practises - good for learners, good for business

Te Oho Reedy
Jenni Pethig
10:00 am - 10:45 am Orange Room

How ENZ Supports PTEs to Grow Internationally?

Education New Zealand is the government agency dedicated to helping Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural and economic benefits of international education. In this session, Sharon-May McCrostie, Director Sector Engagement, will share the government’s goal for international education and how ENZ supports the growth of the sub-sector internationally.

Sharon-May McCrostie
10:30 am - 11:00 am Foyer

Morning Tea

11:15 am - 11:55 am Harbour View Room

Featured Session - General Manager Tertiary Policy, Te Pou Kaupapahere - Ministry of Education

Katrina Sutich
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Foyer

Lunch

12:55 pm - 1:40 pm Harbour View Room

Featured Session: Chief Executive - New Zealand Qualifications Authority

Dr Grant Klinkum
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm Harbour View Room

Breakout Session: Beyond tuakana teina: Exploring Māori vocational pathways

This presentation is based on an action research project centered on Tāwharau Housing Trust, a small whānau-based construction company in Rotorua. Focused on ‘tuakana teina’ (older-younger, experienced-inexperienced) a culturally inspired Māori approach to building apprenticeships with Māori learners will be presented. Conventional approaches to tertiary and vocational training tend to use Māori teaching practices, like ‘tuakana teina’, in disconnection and isolation from their broader cultural context, with limited success. Interpreted at a surface level as a mentoring framework, ‘tuakana teina’ looks more like an expert-novice, or buddy system of helping someone to learn a skill. As a practice used in isolation, tuakana teina can have limited success. Seeking meaning beyond the obvious meaning of ‘tuakana teina’ was a reflective tool used by this building company. ‘Beyond tuakana teina: Exploring Māori vocational pathways’ explores ways of positioning authentic and meaningful cultural contexts for tuakana teina to flourish. Some of these contexts stem from practices of the ancient whare wānanga (traditional schools of learning), from the first New Zealand Māori Arts School, and some from previous Māori Trade Training courses in recent decades. Replicated and refreshed into contemporary practice, this presentation will shed light on some of these current practices; practices that can be successfully applied to other vocational settings as well.

Jayden Thompson
Dr. Joshua Kalan
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm Orange Room

Breakout Session: Strengthening Governance and Risk Management in Vocational and Tertiary Education

In an evolving educational landscape, robust governance and effective risk management are important to ensuring the quality and sustainability of vocational and tertiary education institutions. This session will provide an in-depth exploration of best practices in governance and risk management tailored to the unique needs of the education sector. Participants will gain insights into the critical components of effective governance frameworks and how they can be implemented to enhance institutional accountability and transparency. The session will discuss the importance of risk management, offering practical strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impact educational outcomes and institutional reputation. Kevin Ekendahl will share his extensive experience in leading quality assurance and governance initiatives within the education sector. Attendees will learn about the latest tools and methodologies used to conduct comprehensive audits and ensure continuous compliance with regulatory standards. Real-world examples and case studies will illustrate successful governance and risk management practices, highlighting the challenges faced and solutions implemented by leading institutions. The session will also address how to foster a culture of continuous improvement and proactive risk management among staff and stakeholders. By the end of this session, participants will have a clear understanding of how to strengthen their institution's governance structures and risk management practices, ultimately contributing to the transformation, quality, and sustainability of vocational and tertiary education.

Kevin Ekendahl
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm Blue Room

Breakout Session: AI and Assessment - Friend or Foe?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the landscape of assessment across tertiary and all education in the last year. One of the most notable changes is the enhancement of personalised learning and its impact on assessment. AI has revolutionised the grading process. Traditional assessment can be time-consuming and subject to human error or bias. AI algorithms, however, can evaluate large volumes of assessments quickly and consistently. Tools like automated essay scoring systems utilise natural language processing to assess writing for grammar, coherence, and content relevance. AI-driven systems can also analyse vast amounts of data to identify individual learning patterns and weaknesses. This allows for the creation of customised tests that adapt to a student's proficiency level, offering questions that are neither too difficult nor too easy. Despite these advancements, the integration of AI in assessment comes with challenges, including concerns about data privacy, the potential for algorithmic bias, and the need for transparency in AI decision-making processes. Addressing these issues and maintaining academic integrity is crucial to harnessing the full potential of AI in assessment practices. As you interact with AI when developing and marking assessment one of biggest questions to consider is: Is it your friend or foe?

Tony Boyce
2:40 pm - 2:50 pm Foyer

Snack Time

2:50 pm - 3:30 pm Harbour View Room

Featured Session: Workforce Development Council panel - Future proofing industry training

Sean McKinley
Phil Alexander-Crawford
Philip Aldridge
Kari Scrimshaw
Jenni Pethig
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Harbour View Room

Featured Session: Tertiary Education Commission Session

Esther Calley
Deidre Marshall
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm Harbour View Room

Draw Winners and Conference Conclusion