Eligibility – PTE Strategic Fund

Eligibility – PTE Strategic Fund

Last updated 9 October 2023
Last updated 9 October 2023

This page sets out eligibility for the PTE Strategic Fund.

PTE eligibility

For your PTE to be eligible for the 2024 PTE Strategic Fund it must be an NZQA-registered PTE. It must also:

  • have an External Evaluation and Review (EER) provider category of either 1 or 2, and
  • have received a 2024 indicative allocation from us for the Delivery at Levels 3–7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) and all industry training Fund.

If you are applying to be a new provider and are applying to receive UFS funding you may be eligible to apply for PTE Strategic Funding. 

If you have any questions about applying to be a new provider and what that means for your PTE Strategic Fund applications, please email customerservice@tec.govt.nz.

More information on the new provider application process can be found on our website.

Application to receive TEC funding

For examples of what type of initiatives you could apply for funding for, see funding examples.

Funding examples – PTE Strategic Fund

Eligibility for National and Regional Skills Priorities (NRSP) funding

Proposals for 2024 PTE Strategic Fund NRSP funding must:

  • be for responding to national and regional skills priorities
  • be for activities, delivery of provision, or capital expenditure within the specified organisation(s), or subcontracted
  • meet any applicable timing, formatting, or other requirements outlined here or in the application form
  • meet one or more of the priority areas highlighted in the national and regional skills priorities and/or broader priorities for investment*
  • show how underserved learners will be supported.

You cannot use NRSP funding for programme maintenance and/or development.

* You don’t need to satisfy every one of the national and regional skills priorities – but you must respond to at least one for your proposal to be considered.

National and regional skills priorities and broader priorities for investment

For the 2024 funding round, the Priorities for investment are the National and Regional Skills Priorities – informed by advice from Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) and Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs). For your proposed Initiative to be considered for funding under the NRSP, you must meet at least one of the four broader Priorities for investment. These are:

  • Achieving system-wide equity
  • Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through tertiary education
  • Education and training that delivers for learners
  • Responding to changes in work and education.

These Priorities for investment can be further broken down into 23 priorities. These apply across all provision at all levels. We will prioritise investment in programmes that most strongly show these characteristics. The priorities for investment in 2024 have been informed by advice from WDCs and RSLGs.

You can find more information on the Priorities for investment, and the 23 priorities under them, in the Plan Guidance for providers submitting Plans for funding from 1 January 2024.

Plan Guidance for TEOs submitting Plans for funding from 1 January 2024 (PDF 7.1 MB)

Eligibility for Programme Development and Maintenance Fund (PDMF) funding

Proposals for 2024 PTE Strategic Fund PDMF funding must:

  • be for activities, delivery of provision, or capital expenditure within the specified organisation(s), or subcontracted
  • meet any applicable timing, formatting, or other requirements outlined here or in the application form
  • be for delivering a programme in 2024, or for doing work towards developing or maintaining a programme in 2025.

Your PTE can seek PDMF funding for any, or all, of the programmes you are presently delivering. You can also use PDMF funding for developing plans and resources that support delivery of new micro-credentials. Please consider what your proposed programme’s mode of delivery would be when you apply, e.g. extramural, provider-based.

For micro-credentials, your application needs to show that you’re developing provision to deliver a WDC-created micro-credential or that you’re working with a WDC to develop your own micro-credential.

Maintenance could include ongoing costs for hosting a learning management system or updating an existing programme to better meet learner needs. For examples of what maintenance looks like, see Funding and payments.

You cannot use PDMF funding to develop or maintain qualifications, as WDCs will be responsible for this. Programmes and qualifications are distinct from each other. Programmes (developed by providers) lead to qualifications (developed by qualification developers). The Education and Training Act 2020 says a programme “… means a programme of study or training that leads to a qualification listed on the Qualifications [and Credentials] Framework”.

Funding and payments – PTE Strategic Fund

Can work start now for 2024 delivery? 

All payments will be made in the 2024 calendar year and aligned to milestones. You should present a schedule of milestones in your proposal that align with how you wish to spend the funding. Work can begin in 2023, as part of preparation, as long as the milestones are in 2024.

Should proposed programmes be endorsed and/or approved?

You don’t need to seek or receive any kind of endorsement or approval to apply for funding, however endorsements are necessary for delivery so we will do expect you to include NZQA approval and endorsement by the relevant WDC as part of your proposal’s milestones.

We may also seek confirmation from WDCs that your programme aligns with their criteria for endorsement as part of our decision-making process.

The PTE Strategic Fund cannot be used for NZQA provider costs.

Find out more about our funding priorities

You can find out more about our funding priorities in the Plan Guidance for 2024.

Plan Guidance for TEOs submitting Plans for funding from 1 January 2024 (PDF 7.1 MB)