The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington have been successful in their bids to host new Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs), Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced today at an event at Victoria University.

The CAPEs will be cross-institutional centres of excellence specialising in the language, culture, politics and economics of countries or groups of countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

“They are an important and strategic investment in New Zealand’s future. So much of our trade, tourism and migration is focused on the Asia-Pacific region. It makes sense to deepen our understanding of it,” Mr Goldsmith says.

As well as teaching about and researching these countries, each CAPE will be mandated to help learners, exporters, and government agencies improve their understanding of the countries and their languages.

“The new CAPEs will provide initiatives and programmes of use to small and medium enterprises wanting to grow their understanding of the Asian and Latin American markets.”

“The centres will also help individuals better prepare to do business and connect with the Asia-Pacific region.”

CAPEs will further develop New Zealand’s Asia-Pacific rim knowledge and language skills, facilitating collaboration between tertiary education providers and stakeholders to enhance our partnerships with the Asia-Pacific region.

The CAPEs programme was allocated $34.5 million over 4 years in Budget 2016. It is part of the Government’s comprehensive Business Growth Agenda, and a major initiative in the internationalisation stream of the Tertiary Education Strategy.

Notes:

Three CAPEs will be set up in total, the first led by the University of Auckland in partnership with the University of Otago, the University of Waikato and the Victoria University of Wellington. This CAPE will specialise in North Asia.

Two more centres will be led by Victoria University of Wellington in partnership with the University of Otago, the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato. These two CAPEs will specialise in countries or groups of countries in South East Asia and Latin America.

The North Asia and South East Asia focused CAPEs will utilise the expertise of the Asia New Zealand Foundation as one of their key delivery partners.

|  A Beehive release  |  March 09, 2017  ||

TeenAg, an agriculture sector youth programme run by New Zealand Young Farmers, will receive $146,000 of support under a new partnership announced today by Youth Minister Nikki Kaye.

“This is about supporting more young people to develop skills such as leadership and learn about potential career opportunities in the primary sector, which is such a vital part of our economy,” says Ms Kaye.

“TeenAg aims to promote a positive picture of agriculture and raise awareness of agricultural careers from an early age.

“The funding announced today will support around 500 more young people to participate in the programme.”

TeenAg consists of two core elements:

TeenAg Clubs, which provide a context to learn about agriculture and develop leadership and broader life skillsTeenAg Competitions, which extend and challenge competitors outside of their comfort zones to build character and leadership skills.

“It’s great to be able to support TeenAg to extend its reach, including into urban centres, and provide additional youth development opportunities for more young New Zealanders in such a pivotal sector as agriculture,” says Ms Kaye.

“This investment is being made under the Partnership Fund, which sees the Government co-invest with business, philanthropic, iwi and other partners to grow youth development opportunities.

“The Government is contributing $50,000 towards the programme, alongside $96,000 cash and in-kind support from partners including Red Meat Profit Partnership, DairyNZ, Lincoln University and Southfuels & Northfuels.

“More than $2 million of partnerships for a range of youth development opportunities have been announced so far in 2017, which shows the partnership model is delivering great results.”

|  A Beehive release  |  March 08, 2017  ||

British engineer and inventor James Dyson has announced he is increasing his brand's UK presence tenfold with the opening of a second campus.

Dyson made the announcement today at the company's global headquarters on the outskirts of Malmesbury, a historic market town in Wiltshire, southwest England.

The new campus will sit on 517 acres of space nearby, on former Ministry of Defence land at Hullavington. Dyson has said this will expand the company's UK footprint tenfold.

"After 25 years of UK growth, and continuing expansion globally, we are fast outgrowing our Malmesbury Campus," said James Dyson. "The 517 acre Hullavington Campus is an investment for our future, creating a global hub for our research and development endeavours."

"It will enable us to continue creating world-class products and jobs right here in the Cotswolds."

British engineering and innovation are a passion of Dyson's. After being the only prominent designer to argue in favour of Brexit last year, he committed £15 million over the next five years to tackle the UK's engineering skills gap.

He is also opening a new university, the Dyson Institute of Technology, this September on the recently expanded Dyson Campus in Malmesbury. It will feed Dyson's engineering workforce, which he hopes to double from 3,000 to 6,000 by 2020.Embargoed: New Dyson campusDyson's Malmesbury Campus was recently expanded by Wilkinson Eyre, adding a mirrored laboratory and sports hangar

Dyson's announcement was welcomed by British Prime Minister Theresa May, who has made the creative industries, engineering and technology central to the country's post-Brexit growth plan.

"This investment is a vote of confidence in our modern industrial strategy and our determination to cement the UK's position as a world leader in high-tech engineering," she said. "Dyson's exporting strength and commitment to creating jobs in Britain is a real success story that demonstrates the opportunity that our plan to create a truly global Britain can present."

"It is also good to see that the site chosen by James Dyson will bring former MoD land back into productive use."

The site includes world war two hangars, which will be restored as part of the project. Site preparations for phase one of the Hullavington Campus begin next week.

The Hullavington announcement comes two weeks after Dyson opened a new Technology Centre in Singapore. The centre focuses on developing connected-home technologies.

|  A deZEEN release  |  March 02, 2017  ||

Nominations are now open for the 2017 New Zealand Youth Awards, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“These awards recognise and celebrate young New Zealanders who have achieved outstanding results, as well as those who have made a significant contribution towards supporting young people in their communities,” says Ms Kaye.

Up to 50 people and organisations across eight different award categories will be recognised in 2017.

“The categories this year celebrate qualities such as leadership, giving back and being a change maker, as well as young people who have supported youth activities in areas such as the arts, culture, sport or the environment,” says Ms Kaye.

“There are also awards for youth groups and individuals or organisations who have supported or championed young people in any type of activity.

“A new category this year is the Youth Enterprise Award. This will recognise demonstration of business acumen, innovation and/or social responsibility by a young person or youth-led enterprise.

“I encourage community leaders, youth workers, parents, teachers and young people themselves to nominate someone who deserves recognition for their achievements.”

In 2016, recipients of Youth Awards included a joint leader of a student-led anti-cyber bullying group, the founder of an organisation created to address issues of gender equality, the creator of a website designed to support and inform dyslexic youth and a group of 20 young people who built a youth centre for their Marae.

“There’s a huge number of talented and committed young people and supporters in New Zealand who are leading change, innovating and creating solutions,” says Ms Kaye.

“The New Zealand Youth Awards are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on their leadership and the contributions they’re making to their communities.”

Applications close at midday on Wednesday 22 March 2017. The award winners will be formally recognised at a celebratory event at Parliament on Wednesday 12 April 2017.

For more information, go to https://nzyouthawards.org.nz

Notes

2017 New Zealand Youth Awards categories

In 2017, there are ten awards across eight categories. Up to five recipients for each award will be selected by a panel including young people.

Change Maker Award (LGBTI)

For young people who have created positive change in, or for, the LGBTI community.

Change Maker Award (Cultural)

For young people who have created positive change to foster cultural understanding in their community.

Change Maker Award (Community Safety)

For young people who have created positive change, resulting in a safer environment for young people in their community.

Leadership Award

For young people who have demonstrated their leadership in a project or organisation.

Giving Back Award

For young people whose actions address a current need and have had a significant impact on their community.

Working for Youth Award

For young people whose actions specifically support other young people in areas including, but not limited to, the arts, culture, the environment or sport.

Youth with Disability Award

For young people with a disability who have made a significant contribution to the disability sector and/or their community.

Youth Group Award

For a group of young people who have made a significant contribution to their community in areas including but not limited to, the arts, culture, the environment or sport.

Youth Champion Award

For an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution to young people in areas including but not limited to, the arts, culture, education, the environment, health, research or sport.

Youth Enterprise Award

For an individual or a youth-led enterprise which has demonstrated business acumen, innovation and/or social responsibility.

|  A Beehive release  |  February 28, 2017  ||

The Hutt STEMM Festival, in its third year, educates, inspires and showcases Lower Hutt’s strengths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and manufacturing (STEMM).

This year the festival will run over two weeks, 6-21 May to coincide with Techweek ‘17.

Last year more than 70 local businesses and organisations were involved in organising 42 events aimed at sparking conversations about STEMM and shining a spotlight on existing and future opportunities in Lower Hutt to be part of these exciting sectors.

Expressions of interest are now open for those wanting to run an event at this year’s festival.

Events and activities are sought that will engage business, schools, STEMM professionals and the wider Wellington community.

Council’s General Manager Kim Kelly says the theme of this year’s festival is “Building the Future”.

“The future is being built here in Lower Hutt and the Hutt STEMM Festival is an opportunity to discover the incredible things being created in our city and the innovative ideas being shared.

“We want to showcase our strengths as one of New Zealand’s leading growth centres and capture imaginations, from those who’ve built a career in one or more of the STEMM sectors to families who want to learn and be creative together.

“This year’s festival, with the support of our thriving STEMM community, will be the place to be this May.”

To register interest in running an event or find out more visit huttstemm.nz before 5pm,Friday 10 March.

The Hutt STEMM Festival is brought to the Wellington region by Hutt City Council and supported by Lower Hutt businesses and organisations.

| A Hutt City release  |  February 18, 2017  ||

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister, Paul Goldsmith, has today introduced the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to Parliament.

The Bill is designed to update legislation that affects the everyday running of tertiary education organisations.

“This Bill will allow for more flexibility in the tertiary funding framework, and improve accountability in return,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“The government has already improved the monitoring of tertiary organisations in response to recent investigations, and the proposals in this Bill will allow for better information collection and oversight of providers.”

A number of changes are also being made to expand student protection arrangements in response to issues raised in the past year.

“We need to ensure that the right settings are in place to support domestic and international student’s safety and wellbeing and ensure they receive a consistently high-quality education in New Zealand.”

The Bill makes a number of largely technical proposals which:

• increase the flexibility of funding
• further strengthen monitoring and compliance
• ensure consistent treatment of tertiary education providers
• broaden student protection arrangements.

The Bill is also an opportunity to look at some minor matters that need updating in the Education Act.

“Both public and private education providers that achieve good education outcomes for New Zealanders should receive comparable funding. Introducing a requirement that providers are funded consistently I hope will encourage innovation and better performance in the tertiary sector.

The Government consulted on an exposure draft of the Bill in September and October 2016, and a number of improvements have been made to the Bill as a result of the submissions received.

|  A Beehive release  |  February 8, 2017  ||

An investment of over $270,000 in the technology mentoring programme Shadow Tech Days will help it inspire more young women into technology related careers, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This programme, run by NZ Tech, connects participants with women working in the tech sector, as well as women studying technology at a tertiary level,” says Ms Kaye.

“By spending a day in the workforce, participants get to experience first-hand what it’s like to work in a technology role.

“Ongoing mentoring and advice is also provided through contact with a tertiary student, to help participants progress their studies towards a tech career.

“The investment announced today is being made under the Partnership Fund which sees the Government co-invest with business, philanthropic, iwi and other partners to grow youth development opportunities.

“The Government will invest $75,000 in Shadow Tech Days, complemented by around $25,000 from NZ Tech towards programme management, and over $170,000 of staff time from participating technology firms.”

To date, Shadow Tech Days has been run in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The Partnership Fund investment will enable it to reach more young women in these areas, and also expand its reach to Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Dunedin.

“Time spent with a mentor and seeing how things operate in the actual workforce can be hugely beneficial to inspiring young people’s potential career path,” says Ms Kaye.

“The experiences this programme delivers are about building the confidence of young women, and equipping them with the knowledge and support to make positive decisions about their future.”

Shadow Tech Days is scheduled to take place during Techweek (6-14 May 2017).

|  A Beehive release  |  January 27, 2017  ||

Vacuum and electronics giant Dyson is expanding its pool of software engineers, with the "majority" of its recruits set to work in the UK.

The company is on the hunt for 110 new staff as part of plans to hire an additional 3,000 engineers globally by 2021.

A Dyson spokesman confirmed the "majority" of the 110 positions will be based in Britain at its Malmesbury campus in Wiltshire and the Dyson software hub in Bristol.

Others will be recruited to Dyson's operations in Singapore, the spokesman said.

To help in its hiring spree, the company is launching a "pop-up" in London where participants will have to solve "cryptic software-based challenges" in teams to help test applicants' problem-solving skills.

The top challengers will then be offered job interviews with Dyson.

It follows an announcement from billionaire inventor Sir James Dyson last November when he outlined plans to launch a new university to help bridge Britain's chronic skills gap.

Sir James is expected to pour £15 million into the Dyson Institute of Technology - which will be based at Dyson's campus in Wiltshire - as he looks to double his engineering workforce to 6,000 over the next five years.

It will take its first 25 students in September 2017.

He told the Press Association in November that the private sector had a duty to help plug the engineering skills gap because the UK needed 10 times as many engineers as it did 10 years ago.

Sir James said that the idea of launching the university came after he visited the Government to "moan about the lack of engineers". He was advised to take matters into his own hands.

}}} Continue to read full article here . . .

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced the latest round of successful recipients of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA).

A total of 156 New Zealand students have been selected to study, carry out internships or conduct research at top institutions throughout Asia as part of the first 2016/17 scholarship round. Successful applications came from universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, and private training establishments.

“The PMSA is designed to encourage New Zealand students to study in Asian countries and experience the benefits of international education for themselves.

“Since the establishment of the PMSA programme in 2013, 907 New Zealand students have been awarded a scholarship to study in a variety of Asian countries,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Students will study in 11 countries, with China, India and Japan the top three destinations this round.

Of the successful recipients, 69 students will take part in a variety of programmes ranging from a Long Term Chinese Language Programme at Beijing Language and Culture University, a one-year exchange to Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan, and an Internship at the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials in Cambodia.

A further 87 students were awarded a scholarship as part of seven group applications.

Funding for the PMSA of $9 million over five years was initially provided in Budget 2013 as part of the Government's Internationally Focused Growth Package. Additional funding was granted in Budget 2016 of $1m for each of 2016/17 and 2017/18, and $1.5 million per year from 2018/19. The total awarded this round was $1,401,657.

Applications for round two of the 2017 PSMA opened mid-December 2016, and close 30 March 2017.

Further information, including the names of the scholarship recipients, is available here: Education New Zealand website.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today named the first students to receive a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America (PMSLA).

Thirty seven top students from across New Zealand have been chosen for the first round of 2016/17 scholarships, with a total value of $250,000.

“The new scholarships aim to introduce more young New Zealanders to Latin American countries and cultures, as well as build connections that will benefit New Zealand into the future.

“Latin America is becoming increasingly important to our nation from a trade and enterprise perspective. International education experiences help young Kiwis develop cultural awareness, understanding and skills that enhance our country’s ability to work in this part of the world,” says Mr Goldsmith.

The twelve individual scholarships go to students undertaking a range of programmes, including an exchange to Universidad EAFIT in Medellín, Colombia, and a study-abroad semester at the Universidad Austral de Chile in Chile.

Two groups have also been awarded scholarships. Twelve students from Massey University will to travel to Colombia for a month-long programme, Latino Aotearoa: Spreading the Word Across the Pacific. Thirteen students from the University of Auckland will travel to Brazil to carry out a month-long Brazilian Visual Cultures - LATINAM202 programme.

The PMSLA programme is modelled on the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia, which has supported 907 New Zealand students with study, research or internships in Asian countries since its introduction in 2013.

The programme is funded as part of the $761.4 million ‘Innovative New Zealand’ 2016 Budget package.

Applications for round two of PMSLA opened mid-December 2016 and close 30 April 2017. Another $250,000 will be allocated to students in this second round.

Further information, including the names of the scholarship recipients, is available on the Education New Zealand website.