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New Zealand Business Council
for Sustainable Development
for Sustainable Development
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Regional Partnership Facilitator OrganisationsBrief Description The following regional listings give examples of facilitator organisations operating in New Zealand: Canterbury Development Corporation, City of Manukau Education Trust, Nelson Bays Education Business Partnership, Otago Education and Business Partnership Trust Southland Education Business Partnership Network, 2020 Communications Trust, Wellington. These organisations have formed in a range of locations over the past few years with the common purpose to facilitate business/school links and partnerships, for economic development and social well-being. All operate as charitable trusts, with paid co-ordinators and board representatives from key sectors of their region – business, education, local government and central government agencies. There is some variation in their funding sources and each has priorities to match the particular needs of their location. They actively strive to avoid overlap and work co-operatively. Service Benefits The Otago Education Business Partnership Trust was established in 1996 to act as a catalyst to assist businesses and educational institutions in creating mutually beneficial partnerships in Otago. A strong network exists to support the Trust. It comprises wider groups of education and business organisations that are committed to improving the links between business and education. High points for the Trust have been gaining national recognition for the publication of a ‘good practice’ Work Exploration Kit and the number of successful partnerships that have continued to flourish in Otago in spite of the difficult economic climate. Southland Education Business Partnership (South Ed) was established in 1996. The primary objective of the organisation is to facilitate relationships between Southland High Schools and the business community. South Ed contracts a co-ordinator whose role is to facilitate potential career orientated seminars for sixth and seventh form students. The co-ordinator works closely with Careers Advisers in schools who assist in promoting the seminars. Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) is the regional economic development and employment arm of the Christchurch City Council, formed in 1983. Their role is to develop and enhance long-term economic and social sustainability in Christchurch and the Canterbury region. One of the recognised key regional objectives is workforce capability. Regional Enterprise and Education Networks (REENs) are one model used to form new relationships between the school and business sectors, allowing creation of a more skilled and flexible workforce for the 21st Century. CDC are currently operating partnership facilitation contracts funded by the Ministry of Education for three regions: Canterbury, West Coast and Marlborough. The City of Manukau Education Trust (COMET) was founded by the City Council in 2000 to develop an education strand, linked with the city’s employment and economic development strategies, to deal with the acute situation of their large youth population, many of whom are in low-decile schools. In Manukau, more than most other places in the country, people need work and the skills that make them employable. Schools urgently require assistance to engage students on pathways to productive futures, which include programmes to develop an enterprise orientation. Nelson Bays Education Business Partnership (NBEBP) was established in 1995 when the community realised local school students, their most important resource, were unprepared for the fast-changing world of work. Funding comes from 22 sponsors and the Trust works very actively with four secondary schools and three intermediates in the region, encouraging teachers to include the business community as a major resource in their teaching. Their goal is maximum understanding and co-operation between sectors and they offer facilitation for all staff. The 2020 Communications Trust was set up in 1996 as an initiative of the Wellington City Council seeking to ensure “that every citizen is equipped with the essential values, information, skills and opportunities to compete effectively in the emerging global digital economy and to fully participate in creating the information society”. This has led to three very important and effective school partnership projects that have grown beyond their Wellington base: Computers in Homes, Living Heritage and NetDay. Business Personnel Involvement Discretionary. Each trust provides skilled services to facilitate any partnership initiative, while executives with time available will find their skills welcome in projects or on trust boards. Cost Nil. The purpose of all facilitator organisations is to provide free services to enhance the smooth and productive development of partnerships. However if businesses have financial resources available, sponsorship is an ongoing need. Current Situation All these organisations are busy with local projects, yet open to new developments. Most facilitator organisations participated in an Enterprise Education forum that was held last year in Wellington with the aim of producing a joint policy from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Economic Development, which is still being developed. Some regional initiatives have spread more widely, such as 2020’s Computers in Homes which, through partnership with business sponsors and the government, “aims to empower the communities of decile one schools with the tools and skills to become active participants in our online world”. This has led to initiatives in Panmure, Auckland as well as Cannons Creek, Porirua. Target Groups Students in all schools, to develop necessary new understandings and ways of thinking. Student Numbers, Duration and Frequency Large numbers of students are reached through these partnership programmes which are ongoing and on an annual cycle to match the school year. Contacts CDC Leonie Foster Phone: 03 079 5575 Email: Leonie@cdc.org.nz COMET – Bernardine Vester Phone: 09 273 6009 Email: bvester@manukau.ac.nz NBEBP – Vic Evans Phone: 03 546 8198 Email: nbebp@paradise.net.nz SouthEd – John Dyer Phone: 0800 155 570 Email: JOHN@cgins.co.nz 2020 – Clare Coman Phone: 04 479 8636 Email: director@2020.org.nz Otago Education – Sally Gray Phone: 03 477 2236 Email: sally@youthworks.org.nz Evaluation Methods Very strong correlation over full range of criteria. Further Comments
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