Learner Success Plans
Learner Success Plans
Learner Success Plans are an important tool to enable tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to show how they will support more learners to succeed and, ultimately, achieve better educational outcomes for all learners – with a focus on learners most in need.
Learner Success Plans are an important tool to enable tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to show how they will support more learners to succeed and, ultimately, achieve better educational outcomes for all learners – with a focus on learners most in need.
In 2022, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) introduced a new Investment Plan requirement – Learner Success Plans (LSPs). LSPs are required from all large tertiary providers that receive $5 million or more in funding from the TEC and/or are required to submit a Strategic Intent.
LSPs detail how the TEO will achieve better educational outcomes for all learners, in particular, learners most in need (eg, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, with low prior achievement, or who are disabled, neurodivergent, Māori and/or Pacific). LSPs include strategies for achieving a system that is outcome-driven and focused on learners, whānau and communities.
We use these plans to inform funding decisions, actively monitor progress against commitments, and hold organisations to account. Through this requirement, we are sending a strong signal that delivering better educational outcomes for learners is fundamental to our investment.
What is a Learner Success Plan?
The learner success approach requires TEOs to understand their learners and design how their whole organisation must operate to deliver to the learner’s needs. Their LSPs outline how this will happen through a roadmap to success.
We require an LSP from all TEOs that receive $5 million or more in funding from the TEC and/or are required to submit a Strategic Intent. Updates to LSPs are required in accordance with each TEO’s investment cycle. These help us to understand the impacts of the learner success approaches the TEO has implemented and next steps to continue working towards better educational outcomes for learners, particularly those most in need.
The LSP sits alongside other Investment Plan requirements, including Disability Action Plans.
Learner Success Plan Guidance
We provide guidance to help TEOs develop their LSPs. The Guidance outlines what we expect from TEOs in terms of their LSP development and implementation, as well as their progress updates.
The LSP Guidance supports you to develop your LSP and gives suggestions on how to use the Learner Success Framework and Learner Success Diagnostic Tool as part of this development.
Guidance for TEOs submitting Learner Success Plans for funding from 2026 (PDF 383 KB)
Learner Success Plan templates
We encourage you to use the templates, or the headings the templates provide, to guide your documents. You’ll find further information on how to complete your LSP or progress update in the LSP Guidance document above.
Template for Learner Success Plans for Investment from 2026 (DOCX 279 KB)
Template for Learner Success Progress Update for Investment from 2026 (DOCX 279 KB)
Giving effect to the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES)
Creating and implementing an LSP helps TEOs give effect to the TES, particularly objectives 1 (learners at the centre) and 2 (barrier free access).
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between LSP Guidance, the Learner Success Framework and the Learner Success Diagnostic Tool?
The LSP Guidance is advice from the TEC on how to develop an LSP and what it should cover.
The Learner Success Framework is a blueprint for change. It provides TEOs with an approach for putting learners at the heart of what they do and is designed to improve educational outcomes for all learners through addressing biases and disparities that have led to specific learner groups being underserved.
The Learner Success Diagnostic Tool is a digital tool that empowers TEOs to intentionally redesign their operating models to achieve equity of educational outcomes. The tool is the second phase of the Learner Success Framework.
These resources support each other and should be read and used together to support your Learner Success approach.
Who has to submit an LSP?
TEOs must submit an LSP if they:
- receive $5 million or more in on-Plan funding in 2025
- do not currently have a Learner Success Plan, and
- are submitting a full Plan (including a Strategic Intent) this year.
Who has to submit an LSP progress update?
TEOs must submit LSP progress updates if they:
- have a current LSP, and
- are submitting a full Plan (including a Strategic Intent) this year.
What about TEOs that are not submitting an Investment Plan?
We strongly encourage all TEC-funded TEOs to engage with the Learner Success Framework and consider developing an LSP. Doing so will mean taking all possible steps to achieving better educational outcomes for all learners, particularly those most in need.
More information
TEC staff are available to answer any questions about LSPs, the LSP Guidance and the investment process. Please contact your Relationship Manager or the Customer Contact Team on 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz.