GAN Global announces the formation of GAN New Zealand
Amidst a COVID-19 Wage Support Response Package for New Zealand Apprenticeships, Skills Consulting Group launches a country network playing a critical advocacy and capacity building role for work-based learning.
AUCKLAND and GENEVA— Skills Consulting Group will officially host and administer a new New Zealand arm of the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), as the country’s vocational education system goes through a period of significant reform.
Representing nearly 30 years of experience as an industry training organisation, encompassing standard setting, qualifications development, and the arrangement, support, and promotion of work-based traineeships and apprenticeships, Skills Consulting Group offers the scale, technical expertise and organisational strength to establish and maintain an active and effective network in New Zealand. The network will be officially launched on 12 November during the New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum (NZVETRF). This is a longstanding National level event that connects VET research and practice across New Zealand. With the collaborative support of global partners such as GAN Global and the Commonwealth of Learning, the forum will now also have an extensive international reach.
According to Nazrene Mannie, Executive Director of GAN Global, “this new network will shape advocacy and influence in the important area of work-based learning and vocational education – teamed with urgent and meaningful solutions that are needed right now to move beyond COVID19 in the Oceania region and beyond.”
“This is a revolutionary time for apprenticeships in New Zealand”, said Josh Williams, GAN New Zealand Country Manager. “Our government has made extraordinary strides to retain and support apprentices and industries during the pandemic. We see work-based learning and apprenticeships as a critical component of the economic recovery and the VET system going forward. Through a GAN New Zealand chapter, we aim to provide a system-wide network that supports best practice, improves the representation of women in trades; improves achievement and outcomes for Māori and Pacific learners; and provides skills and training support to businesses”.
As part of GAN Global, GAN New Zealand will align its aims and objectives with respect to work-based education and training, and lifelong learning, and will progress these aims across the Oceania region. It will participate actively in GAN Global activities and support other networks and jurisdictions by sharing information and best practice from New Zealand, including sharing case studies and contributions from speakers from across the country.
Skills Consulting Group is a group people development businesses that utilise their expertise in improving human capability and skills. With a focus on work-based learning and apprenticeships, Skills Consulting Group is governed by a group of industry leaders passionate about vocational education. Its history stems from nearly 30 years as an Industry Training Organisation (ITO), mandated by the New Zealand Government to set occupational standards and manage industry training and apprenticeships for 22 industry sectors. In 2019, Skills supported over 32,000 trainees and apprentices employed nationwide, through a network of training advisors based throughout New Zealand and worked alongside almost 4,000 employers.
Skills Consulting Group also provides a full range of vocational education consultancy services in New Zealand and internationally, as well as management training, business advisory, employee assistance provision, and careers services.