On this page you can read a selection from our Annual Report or download the full document:

• Foreword
• Highlights

Download 

Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024 (PDF 5.9 MB)

Foreword from the Acting Board Chair and Chief Executive

The impact of the tertiary education and careers system on New Zealand and its people cannot be understated. It drives and improves far-reaching economic, social and cultural outcomes, creates new knowledge and improves productivity.

The TEC seeks to raise the achievement of this system to generate positive outcomes for both learners and employers, bringing about a thriving economy and society. Through our stewardship and monitoring role, we actively foster the relationship between communities, providers and learners as we focus on delivering a system that achieves equity of educational outcomes for all tertiary learners.

The TEC remained responsive and dynamic throughout 2023/24, as our focus shifted to align with the priorities set by the new Government. Looking ahead, our efforts will focus on delivering the Government’s Priority Work Programme, while continuing to deliver our core functions to a high standard.

Key work across 2023/24 involved engaging with our tertiary education organisation partners to support the implementation of their pursuit of better education outcomes. The work on learner success by the sector has highlighted improvement in several areas, and this is cause for optimism about the sector’s ability to change.

Our monitoring and risk management functions continue to help us provide assurance that learner interests are protected, and that public funding is used appropriately across the sector. We are proud of the work we have done in this space to promote good governance in 2023/24, and to provide support to tertiary education organisations.

Beyond tertiary education, we also achieved a considerable milestone in the careers space in 2023/24 with the piloting in high schools of Tahatū Career Navigator, our new career planning website. This resource, in conjunction with the Inspiring the Future programme, is helping the next generation of New Zealanders make better, more informed educational and employment decisions, by providing high quality, accessible careers information.

We acknowledge and thank the wider sector for their participation and collaboration towards achieving the outcomes we seek for all New Zealanders, and we thank our Board and staff for their tireless efforts across 2023/24.

The Board also acknowledges and thanks Commissioner Jenn Bestwick for her invaluable contributions as a member of the Board from December 2018, and as Board Chair from March 2020, until stepping down in March 2024. Jenn’s vast knowledge of the education system, as well as her broad experience, will be missed.

Dr Wayne Ngata and Tim Fowler
Acting Board Chair and Chief Executive

Highlights

In 2023/24

We spent over $3.8 billion investing in tertiary education and supporting the tertiary education and careers systems.

We funded:

• eight universities
• 200 TEC-funded private training establishments
• three wānanga
• Te Pūkenga, and
• 522 other organisations (including other tertiary education providers, workforce development councils, adult and community providers, secondary schools and area schools), and

We made 33,637 payments to tertiary education organisations.

In the 2023 calendar year, there were 448,765 TEC-funded learners enrolled in Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga, and private training establishments. These learners included 127,875 work-based learners and 329,360 provider-based learners.

In 2023/24, we completed 39 audits of tertiary education organisations. Based on our Partners and Providers Survey, 75% of the organisations found the audit report clear and easy to understand, and 72% agreed that the report was useful to their organisation.

We had around 700 engagements with the 60 largest providers and peak bodies in 2023/24. We also worked closely with Te Pūkenga at head office and business division level during the initiation of the disestablishment process.

Our Customer Contact Group had 77,000 customer engagements over the year, including 45,000 emails, 32,000 phone calls, and over 24,000 Fees Free Statutory Declarations.

Work continues to develop Tahatū Career Navigator, the TEC’s new career planning website. During the year we focused on developing two interactive tools and a pilot with 11 selected schools. Based on positive feedback from the pilot, it will be extended to 50 more schools, and we will progressively roll-out Tahatū Career Navigator to secondary schools in 2025.

The Inspiring the Future programme helps facilitate and strengthen connections between schools, employers and future pathways. By 30 June 2024, 369 schools had signed up (15% of schools in New Zealand) and 272 events had been run. Inspiring the Future has facilitated almost 18,000 connections between young people and the world of work.