annual report - Universities New Zealand - Te PÅkai Tara

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NZVCC ANNUAL REPORT 2008FROM THE CHAIR1. FROM THE CHAIRElection years are never easy for universities. They competeto be heard against other tertiary education sector interests –particularly students – who command many more votes.As 2008 unfolded, it became clear that the majorpolitical parties were again targeting the student voteand the NZVCC was forced to point out that NewZealand continues to devote a disproportionate amountof its tertiary education budget to student financialsupport. The Committee’s message to the electoratewas simple – at issue was the balance betweenquality and affordability. If the pendulum swung toofar one way, university education would be affordablefor students but the quality of that education wouldbe compromised. The real need was greater publicinvestment in universities as an essential part of thenation’s infrastructure. That view was backed by otherparties with an interest in tertiary education, mostnotably business.Partially in response to the political emphasis onstudent financial support, the Committee decided toadopt an on-going, long-term communications strategyto extend beyond the election. The strategy has fourkey messages: universities improve people’s lives,they train the professionals critical to New Zealand’ssuccess, they are the major research providers inthis country and, by failing to invest in universities,successive governments have run the system down.Communication professionals from all universitiesprovided input into the strategy’s development.The “need to invest” message was particularlyapposite when Chancellors and Vice-Chancellorsappeared before the Education and Science SelectCommittee in March to present submissions on theEducation (Establishment of Universities of Technology)Amendmend Bill. This private member’s legislationproposed a new category of public tertiary educationinstitution and was described by university submissionsas misguided, misleading and unnecessary. Underlyingthose statements was a central conclusion – ifNew Zealand is unable to resource adequately itsuniversity system how can it afford further additions toits tertiary education system. In the event the SelectCommittee recommended that the Bill not be passed.The combined approach by Chancellors andVice-Chancellors to promote university interestsextended to the release of the central element of theCommittee’s Briefing for the Incoming Government.That element was a nine-point plan for governmentand university action which was released publicly ata news media conference in Wellington in November.Two Vice-Chancellors, a Chancellor and a member ofthe NZVCC’s Research Committee told journalists ofthe need for increased public investment in universities,pointing out that investment required indexation tocompensate the institutions for annual cost increasesunique to the sector. Further, the level of investmentshould be high enough to sustain research-ledteaching in universities.Page 8
NZVCC ANNUAL REPORT 2008FROM THE CHAIROther aspects of the plan address the currentconstraints on university income streams, especiallyas regards student tuition fees. The plan calls forgreater policy flexibilty so universities can chargefees that more accurately reflect the cost of provision.Universities also seek reduced compliance costswhich emanate from their dealings with a range ofgovernment education agencies.Basic research is one of the principal domainsof the university system and the plan seeks adoubling of the Marsden Fund that supports suchresearch, central to the country’s innovation system.Restoration of university access to contestableresearch funding is another aspect of the plan, alongwith an increase in contestable funds managedby the Foundation for Research, Science andTechnology and the Health Research Council. Thesuite of desired research initiatives is completed byuniversities’ support for closer relationships withother research organisations through appropriatepolicy changes on research funding and researchinstitution governance. The plan says the rolesof universities and the Crown Research Institutescould be more complementary with opportunities forincreased collaboration.As soon as the incoming National Governmentannounced its new Cabinet, the Briefing to the IncomingGovernment document was sent to the Minister forTertiary Education, the Hon Anne Tolley, the Minister ofResearch, Science and Technology, Dr Wayne Mapp,and the Minister for Infrastructure, the Hon Bill English.Arrangements were set in train for Chancellors andVice-Chancellors to discuss the nine-point plan withthese ministers.The year 2008 was one when the NZVCC secretariatfocused not just on the external political environmentbut also on its own structures, processes andcommunications. Real progress was made onpresenting the combined university case for greaterpolitical and public recognition of institutions pivotal toNew Zealand’s economic and social development.Roger J FieldChair February 2009A step change for Mäori and Pasifika and acommitment to universities’ distinctive contributionare the final aspects of the plan. Governmentco-operation is sought in strengthening existinguniversity strategies to engage Mäori and Pasifikacommunities with university education. The newgovernment is also asked to accept its obligationto safeguard university autonomy and academicfreedom, and to recognise universities’ uniqueownership position.Page 9
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