A CoVE is a group from across a sector that works together to grow excellent vocational provision and share high-quality curriculum and programme design across the vocational education system. There is $5 million of funding available per year, for up to five years, for the first two pilot CoVEs. While the funding for the first two CoVEs is for a defined period, this doesn’t mean that CoVEs will only exist for this period and it is expected they will be an enduring part of the vocational education system. It is also expected that CoVE consortium members will also contribute or source additional financial support for the respective CoVEs.

Hosted by a regional campus of Te Pūkenga (NZIST) which comes into being on 1 April 2020, or by a wānanga, each CoVE will include the Te Pūkenga, other providers, the new Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), industry experts and researchers.

Six workshops were held in early November 2019 in Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland with industry representatives, Industry Training Providers (ITPs), and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) for the pilot CoVEs. Participants came together to brainstorm, share and discuss their views on key sector issues and how the CoVEs should be structured.

CoVEs Project Lead Deirdre Marshall says shaping the CoVEs and their role in identifying industry challenges will remain a collaborative process.  

“The Registration of Interest process opens in December 2019 and closes in the first quarter of 2020. From there, we’ll work with applicants to determine which proposals to progress. We expect to make funding decisions in May next year, enabling the successful Primary Sector and Construction Consortia to establish their CoVEs around mid-year.”

Workshop webinars are being held late in November for invitees unable to attend to attend the workshops.

Watch this space for a summary of workshop feedback.