Colleges & NMIT should be supported to best prepare their students to meet the realities of living in Nelson.  By liaising well with industry as to what skills they need, and particularly to encourage apprenticeships, ‘sandwich’ courses, and work experience opportunities. I would welcome Council supporting this process but not to step into the ring as a principal.

I think to it’s understandable that young adults wish to explore other towns, cities and countries, although I would imagine the pull to return at some point to Nelson is strong, but the biggest block to this reality is financial.  Nelson isn’t a place you get trapped in, people want to be here, but it can be hard place to make living in, and that needs to be addressed on many levels – jobs, rents, rates, cheap transport, cheap leisure opportunities and more……

Council should combine in a Working Group/board with NMIT and the EDA to set up a strong body that can actively propmote good programmes to suit Nelson's regional role in the Top of the South, such as aquaculture, tourism, IT, green technology (eg solar power)

Hi Jude

My short answer would be 'no'. I would support cooperation and joint initiatives between our schools and NMIT, trade bodies and business interest groups, that would help ensure students were being trained for relevant local positions where required, but I don't think it's really the realm of NCC to be heavily involved in what courses are offered.

As for the the first part of your question, aside from the obvious, it's very broad and I don't see the relevance to local body political candidates.

Tertiary Education is the role of the Ministry Of Education to provide as the base supplier, There are also private training providers in the top of the South also. Formal tertiary education is to provide education and qualifications to those who chose to    

Awaiting response

Kia ora Jude and thanks for your question.

The role of tertiary education in Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South) must cover a range of initiatives from private training providers, govt providers and iwi providers, from basic life skills for those slipping through the cracks through to trades and skills which match our local industries, culture, craft, tourism, etc and move towards adding value, but for the industries and the people.  Encouraging young people to be proud to be here.

Having said that, Council\'s role is that of networking and facilitiating with providers and industries.

Te Tau Ihu has unique qualities such as the highest sunshine hours - imagine a Te Tau Ihu Renewable Energy Scheme - community owned with shareholders.  Opportunities for development, skills, research - a concept which could be modelled and on-sold to other regions.

Awaiting response

Hi Jude

I sincerely apologise for the delay in reply. After working part-time to full-time for 19 years and volunteering as well, I am now catching up on much needed studies I\'ve always wanted. Local Government should support study programmes / skills training that are relevant to job skills required in Nelson\'s regional economic growth.  Although funding should mainly come from central government, local bodies should help lobby for more funding or at least retention of key skills programmes that would help students towards employment within the region, primarily.  I hope I have been of assistance to you.  Best wishes,

Marie Johnstone - Unity in Diversity.

Hi Jude. The NCC has a key role to play in ensuring that tertiary education is accurately linked to our economy and local needs. However the biggest challenge to this is over who will be  providing the funding to get things moving. Often this ends up being an argument between local government and central government. The Nelson Regional EDA which is funded by both councils is very committed to stronger education/business links, as are both councils, so there is no doubt that the support is there. We do need NMIT operating strongly but they can only be sustainable if councils (the EDA is best placed to action this)  play a key role in identifying the future  educational needs of the region through good dialogue with our key industry  sectors. The whole community must also have an appetite for continuing education.   Because around 28 % of our $3.7 Billion local Nelson/Tasman GDP economy  is derived from our primary industry sector much of our  future economic prosperity lies in adding value to our primary products through new applications of science and technolgy. Therefore the EDA with good support from our councils must  provide the right environment for investment and new market opportunities whilst ensuring NMIT develops compatible programmes. The government\'s  new tertiary education strategy wants a focus on higher tertiary educational qualifications (Levels 4- 6 ) so the challenge for us all is to increase our science and technology applications in our local schools, NMIT and local businesses. This will lead to a higher skilled workforce (this also delivers higher wages)  and develop more innovative goods and services which in turn delivers improved earnings  and productivity rates.