This document outlines ConCOVE Tūhura’s submission on the draft Tertiary Education Strategy (TES), acknowledging its intent to build a more responsive, equitable, and integrated tertiary system. While the priorities are broadly aligned with sector needs, the submission highlights that the strategy risks becoming aspirational without major changes to funding settings, regulatory processes, and provider capability. ConCOVE argues that innovation cannot be optional and calls for greater investment in new delivery models, faster qualification approval processes, work-based learning pathways, degree apprenticeships, and the tools needed to respond to rapid industry and technology shifts.
The submission recommends a long-term, bipartisan strategy with clear accountability, measurable outcomes, and direct links between priorities and the levers that drive change. It emphasises national consistency, seamless transitions between learning modes, and equitable access, while cautioning that current settings make responsiveness difficult. ConCOVE proposes adding a sixth priority focused on system agility and stresses that meaningful transformation will only occur if funding, regulation, and implementation frameworks are aligned to deliver real workforce impact rather than policy intent alone.
ConCOVE response Draft Tertiary Education Strategy (Size: 298 KB | Modified: 27/11/2025)
