Foundation-Focused Training Opportunities

Who applies? ITPs, PTEs, Schools, Universities, Wānanga	Fund focus: Learning focus, Vocational skills, Learner focus, Domestic students, Refugees, Youth
Status: Ongoing	Agreed through? Investment Plan (Aligned)

The Government has decided to refocus the Training Opportunities (TO[1]) fund. The total amount of available funding will remain the same but from 2011 the TEC and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will allocate the funding through a split arrangement.

The Government’s August announcement regarding the TO refocus can be found on the Beehive website.

We are allocating 60% of TO funding to providers through Foundation-Focused Training Opportunities (FFTO) programmes. These programmes are targeted towards learners at the highest risk of long-term unemployment with a more explicit focus on improving literacy and numeracy skills. Sustainable employment that is equivalent to each learner’s benefit type and aligned job-seeking obligations is the primary objective.

The MSD is allocating 40% of TO funding to providers through Training for Work (TFW) programmes. Those programmes are targeted towards more work-ready learners through more industry-focused training that is closely linked to local employment needs. Work and Income are expecting employment outcomes in a relatively short time period from this part of the fund.

There is further high-level information about the refocused fund available on the TEC and MSD websites. FFTO providers are encouraged to review the news section of our website. There is also information on the TFW programmes on the MSD website which can be accessed through its Newsroom portal.

The purpose of FFTO-funded programmes is to enable learners with low qualifications, and who are at risk of long term unemployment, to engage in further education and training.

Any TEO that receives funding must abide by a number of rules and conditions.

Allocations are determined annually and will be informed by performance against targets specified in Condition TOP032[2].

In order to remain eligible for FFTO funding, TEOs must comply with, and continue to adjust to, changes to Government policy and in response to monitoring issues. Continued access to FFTO funding will also be considered in accordance with the Tertiary Education Strategy.

• [1]

  Training Opportunities TO

• [2]

  Condition TOP032: Foundation-Focused Training Opportunities performance targets

  Tertiary education organisations must achieve the following targets for learners in Foundation-Focused Training Opportunities (FFTO) provision:

  • A minimum of 80% of learners confirmed in FFTO training complete a course of study of at least 14 weeks
  • All learners completing a minimum 14 week course achieve at least three unit standards
  • A minimum of 38% of learners achieve employment outcomes commensurate with the learner's benefit type and aligned job-seeking obligations. This is measured at 91 days after completion.
  • A minimum of 26% of learners move off any benefit and progress into further training or education, at level 2 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, except the Ministry of Social Development's Training for Work
  • All learners show an improvement in literacy and numeracy skills, as measured against the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Learning progressions, from entry to exit of the course.