Training Opportunities
The Training Opportunities programme is to enable learners with low qualifications and at risk of long term unemployment to engage in further education and training.
Training Opportunities focuses on learners acquiring a valuable set of foundation skills that enables them to move effectively into sustainable employment and/or higher levels of tertiary education.
Programmes must have a labour market focus. This is reflected in training that:
- leads towards national qualifications
- meets local industry and employer requirements
- is mainly at levels 1 - 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
- is full-time, with typically 30 hours a week or more tutor contact time
- includes workplace learning.
Training Opportunities is free to eligible learners. Learners will continue to receive any benefits they are on and they may also be eligible for a travel allowance.
Organisations participating in Training Opportunities.
Condition TRA031: Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) receiving Training Opportunities funding must do all of the following:
- Deliver training, including support services and workplace learning, in the geographical area as approved by the Tertiary Education Commission
- Provide a learning environment that is responsive and flexible to meet the physical, cultural and learning needs of learners
- Ensure that learners and other stakeholders are fully informed about all of the following:
- The TEO's Training Opportunities programmes
- The TEO's disciplinary and complaints procedures
- The TEO's policies relating to holding learners’ personal information and learners’ rights to review this information
- Develop individual learning plans for funded learners
- Arrange workplace learning opportunities for learners that are consistent with their learning plans
- Ensure the learner and their workplace learning provider enter into a written agreement recording the objectives and duration of any placement before it commences
- Ensure each learner is supplied with any tools, equipment, safety clothing, uniforms and tuition materials that may be required for the training, at no cost to the learner
- Pay any assessment and examination fees charged to learners directly to the people and organisations carrying out the assessments and examinations
- Use the funding to best achieve the targets set out for Training Opportunities.
Training Opportunities targets
Condition TRA032: Tertiary education organisations receiving Training Opportunities funding must achieve the following targets:
- Progress at least 60% of learners into further training, education, or employment within two months of learners leaving the programme
- On average learners leaving the programme achieve at least 20 credits on the National Qualifications Framework
- Maintain occupancy of at least 75% for the programme's duration
- Meet any additional measures specific to the relevant initiative specified in the funding application form or the Investment Plan approved by the Tertiary Education Commission.
If an organisation does not achieve the targets set for funded programmes, the TEC may review the level of funding provided to the organisation in subsequent years.
Learner Eligibility
Learner eligibility information is provided in the learner enrolment section. Further information is provided in the Targeted Training Funding Handbook. (PDF, 496 Kb)
Reporting
Condition TRA035: Tertiary education organisations delivering targeted training programmes must provide the Tertiary Education Commission with all reports, information, and documents required when and as stated in the Targeted Training Funding Handbook (PDF, 496 Kb).
Monitoring
The TEC monitors delivery of Training Opportunities programmes through:
- occupancy rates
- individual learning plans
- acquisition of qualifications, or credits towards them, by learners
- achievement of employment and further training outcomes by learners
- the achievement of Maori and Pacific learners compared to other groups of learners
- the extent to which the outcomes achieved by learners match the aim of the programme
- provision of reports to the TEC
- any other matter or aspect of the Training Opportunities programmes that the TEC reasonably considers relevant.
Condition TRA033: Tertiary education organisations receiving Training Opportunities funding must make the following information available to the Tertiary Education Commission upon request:
- The daily record of learner attendance
- All relevant enrolment and supporting documentation required to verify an individual learner’s eligibility to undertake training
- Assessment and credit achievement results for each learner
- The learning plans and records of workplace learning placements for each learner
- All other relevant documentation as detailed in the Targeted Training Funding Handbook
- All relevant documentation on learner labour market outcomes and employer contact details for audit purposes.
Payments
The TEC will pay TEOs every 28 days amounts up to but not exceeding the amount(s) advised by the TEC.
Payments are calculated per learner, based on the number of learners enrolled and attending training at any one time, up to the maximum number of places advised by the TEC. If the TEO has agreed a flexible placement arrangement with the TEC, payments are based on the number of learners enrolled and attending training, up to the agreed maximum approved cost.
The TEC may reimburse the TEO for travel costs incurred in assisting learners to attend training. The TEC will reimburse learners directly up to a maximum of $70.00 each per week for travel costs incurred in attending training. Further information on reimbursement of travel costs is in the Targeted Training Funding Handbook (PDF, 496 Kb).
Training Opportunities resources
Forms