Charters and Profiles

Welcome to the Waikato Institute for Leisure & Sport Studies Charter and Profile page.  The following information provides the Waikato Institute for Leisure & Sport Studies (Wilss) internal and external stakeholder communities with information about the changes occurring in the tertiary education system, and the opportunity.        

Introduction 
The Government's Tertiary Education Strategy 2002/07 (TES) signals changes intended to create a stronger, more coherent tertiary sector, with increased emphasis on collaboration, differentiation and specialisation across the system.  These shifts, and associated developments in the way the tertiary system is funded, will affect Wilss and its wider stakeholder communities.
  
What is a Charter?
Under the Education (Tertiary Reform) Amendment Act 2002, every publicly-funded tertiary education institution must have a Charter and Profile approved before 1 January 2004.  Wilss is currently in the process of developing its Charter, a high-level governance document that defines broad strategy and sets out the its mission and role in the tertiary education system. 
Charters provide the basis for the development of Profiles.  Profiles are detailed annual statements describing the Institute's plans and activities for the next three years, and outlining how these will give effect to the broad strategies and mission set out in the Charter.
For 2006-08 Profiles will largely be based on current Statements of Objectives.  Wilss will be consulting with staff, participants and stakeholders on the Profile in the next few months.

Background                                                               
The Government's Tertiary Education Strategy 2002-7 (pdf) is the key document in the new tertiary system.  The TES is a five-year blue-print for a redefined tertiary system which contributes to New Zealand's national goals.  It contains six central strategies:  
§         Strengthen System Capability and Quality
§         Contribute to the Achievement of Mâori Development Aspirations.
§         Raise Foundation Skills so that all People can Participate in our Knowledge Society
§         Develop the Skills New Zealanders need for our Knowledge Society
§         Educate for Pacific Peoples? Development and Success.
§         Strengthen Research, Knowledge Creation and Uptake for our Knowledge Society.
There are several other key elements of the re-designed system. The Interim Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP) sets out the goals for the implementation of the Tertiary Education Strategy in the short to medium term.  

The system of Charters and Profiles will act as a steering mechanism, by which tertiary education institutions align their activities with the directions of the TES, enabling funding decisions to be made and contributing to a map of tertiary provision in New Zealand.

The Education (Tertiary Reform) Amendment Act 2002 established the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as a standalone crown entity to oversee the implementation of the Tertiary Education Strategy.  The TEC is also responsible for assessing Charters and Profiles and making decisions on the allocation of public funding.    

 Our Charter Document:     Charter document for Wilss1.pdf                             

Contact
For further information about any of the material contained in these pages, please contact:
Jo Bailey 
Phone: 07 839 9908
Email:  job@wilss.ac.nz