News | ATTTO Welcomes Release of Performance Data for Industry Training Sector
16/12/2010
ATTTO has welcomed the release of performance data for industry training organisations (ITOs), saying increased public scrutiny will benefit the industry training sector and the industries it serves.
The data, which was released today by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), reported the number of registered trainees going on to complete training programmes and unit standards. It is part of an overall boost in the monitoring and measurement of tertiary sector performance, aimed at driving up quality outcomes and tax payer value across the tertiary sector.
Top performer
ATTTO ranks among the top performing ITOs in New Zealand, with around half of its registered trainees going on to complete training within required timeframes. This performance compares well with the average polytechnic performance of 50 per cent completions, and better than the average of 41 per cent for all ITOs (see www.tec.govt.nz).
However ATTTO Chief Executive Elizabeth Valentine adds a word of caution when interpreting these averages. She says results are skewed because of the differences between regulated and non-regulated occupations.
"Had the TEC clustered and compared all regulated occupations (builders, plumbers, electricians, aviation pilots and engineers for example) and all non-regulated occupations, the data would have shown a very different picture,” she says.
“In regulated occupations completion rates are high because qualifications are almost always associated with licensing and ongoing professional development. Completion rates for unregulated occupations can be variable for a range of regions.”
She says hospitality, retail and tourism occupations for example attract short-term, casual, part-time and lower paid workers.
“Too often people move on to the next town or employer at short notice and without completing their qualification. There can also be problems with language and literacy that prevent trainees completing full qualifications.”
Supporting achievement
Elizabeth Valentine says ATTTO has always monitored trainee progress, which has helped it provide the right support to trainees at the right time and to retain a place among the top performing ITOs. However, the new TEC measures have helped formalise and benchmark this monitoring.
“One of ATTTO’s roles is to support trainees and their employers in achieving the work-based tertiary qualifications they sign up for. To make sure we continue to add value to the aviation, travel, tourism and museums sectors, our recent focus has been on how we can make sure our customers’ businesses benefit from improved monitoring and communications systems,” she says.
ATTTO is making more real-time information about trainee progress available to customers and, through a newly refreshed website, has made supporting products and services such as learning resources and assessment tools easier to access. Other recent initiatives include the implementation of a dedicated customer services contact centre, the Hub, where work-place assessor mentoring and trainee support is only a phone call away.
Good for the sector
“Industry training is already one of the most cost-effective parts of the tertiary education sector in New Zealand,” says Elizabeth Valentine.
“New Zealand is a leader in workplace training, where people can train on-the-job through an ITO for the same qualification they can achieve at a polytechnic or private training establishment. Increased scrutiny and monitoring will help ensure the ITO system offers even greater value for money for taxpayers and industries.”
On track for 2010
“ATTTO’s performance has improved further with current year-to-date results tracking above 2009 figures,” says Rick Bettle, Chairman of ATTTO.
“The recent changes to improve operating systems and service delivery have been implemented in a very tough operating environment and within a very short time scale, and the Board is comfortable that the organisation is on track for 2010 and beyond.”
ATTTO’s industries make a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy: tourism alone directly and indirectly contributes $15.1 billion to GDP per annum (8.7% of GDP) and employs 184,800 full-time equivalent staff; aviation contributed around $9.7 billion to New Zealand’s GDP in 2009 (6.9% of GDP).
Elizabeth Valentine says ongoing investment in training and up-skilling in these industries is essential to ensuring they remain sustainable and continue to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.