About Us - Our Story

Independent Tertiary Institutions – Nga Wananga Motuhake was formed in September 2003 after the Association of Independent Degree-granting Institutes (IDI) and the Career Colleges Association (CCA) merged. It is a group of leading tertiary education providers, committed to innovation and excellence.

IDI was established in 1993 to focus on the needs of private degree-granting providers. One of IDI’s members, the Bible College of New Zealand, was the first non-university organisation to have a degree approved in New Zealand. IDI worked together with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and other tertiary education providers to implement the new degree approval requirements. IDI members often sat on other members’ degree approval panels, which helped to build up a strong interest in self-regulation. IDI also had a strong tradition of collegiality, with members sharing ideas to improve quality. (IDI was known as the New Zealand Tertiary Institutes’ Council in 1993-1996 and the Private Education Degree Providers’ Association in 1996-2000.)

CCA was formed in 2002 to support its members’ policy, educational and business goals. Members were carefully selected on the basis of size (over 100 EFTS), quality (NZQA audit cycles and other measures) and potential to contribute energy to the group. CCA had a focus on constructive solutions to policy issues and collaboration over common business issues.

Independent Tertiary Institutions – Nga Wananga Motuhake easily blended the IDI and CCA approaches, as both were focused on collegiality, a constructive approach to policy issues and a quality membership. ITI’s main goals are to:

promote the role of private tertiary education providers in New Zealand that are responsive to their stakeholders, meet high quality standards, support their students’ aspirations, and push the boundaries of creativity and innovation;
encourage collaboration between members so that they can improve their educational and organisational performance, and move towards self-regulation;
work constructively with other groups involved in education to improve the New Zealand education system; and
continue to further the original goals of the CCA and IDI groups, especially promoting the role and development of private degree providers in New Zealand.

ITI Welcomes Two New Members
May 2011

ITI welcomes two new members this month: New Zealand School of Education and International Pacific College.

New Zealand School of Education (NZSE)

NZSE, based in New Lynn in Auckland, is one of New Zealand’s largest private ICT training providers. The school offers diplomas up to level 7 and also offers a 2-year Diploma of Information Technology, which students can use to pathway into the AUT and Unitec Bachelors in Computing and Information Sciences.

As well as its partnership with AUT and Unitec, NZSE has memberships with CompTIA, Microsoft and Prometric, which provide students with access to courseware, online learning, programs and assessment services.

In 2009, NZSE was awarded the Babich Wines Export Business Award in the Waitakere Business Awards. The awards judges commended its: "clear strategy for export growth, which has seen overseas student numbers and turnover doubled every year since it opened in 2003". The school has approximately 50 per cent domestic and 50 per cent international students.

NZSE’s mission statement is “To produce successful graduates through exciting educational experiences.” CEO Adam Berry says that the key to that success is that NZSE provides a very caring and supportive environment. Staff members are closely involved with each student’s learning process and committed to supporting their students through mentoring and guidance.

“We see ourselves as a gateway to employment or further academic achievement, “ says Adam. “Many of our domestic students are adult learners who have a lack of confidence in an education setting. We give them real life skills, and the support they need to achieve their employment or academic goals. With our international students, we do everything we can to make them feel welcome and provide extra support wherever they need it to make sure they complete their studies.”

NZSE recently joined ITI. “We joined because we saw a group of likeminded individuals who are strongly committed to their own futures and who talk passionately about quality and outcomes. There is also a strong commitment to supporting each other and that’s what really impressed me. The group keeps a close eye on new policies and initiatives in the education sector and on the political landscape. We felt there was a great deal of value and synergy for NZSE in joining ITI.”

International Pacific College (IPC)

IPC has campuses in Palmerston North and Queenstown. As well as diplomas in foundation studies, TESOL and Japanese language and Japanese studies, the college also offers a wide range of qualifications in international studies, from diploma to master’s level. There is even a Diploma of International Sports Studies for those interested in working in various codes in coaching, international sports liaison and regional sport development positions.

A strong interdisciplinary approach defines the international studies courses, with students studying across business, environmental studies, international relations, and languages.

IPC’s qualifications are all fully accredited by NZQA.

The college’s main campus in Palmerston North is “located in beautiful park like grounds,” says IPC’s President, Professor Wayne Edwards. “That’s what strikes you when you first arrive.” Another small operation in Queenstown provides training for 10 tourism students.

Critical to IPC’s approach is its personalised support programme, which ensures that staff members get to know students’ histories, assist them during orientation and help them to set goals and measure their achievements.

“Close to 90% of our 400 students live on campus,” says Wayne. “It is so important that we provide a high level of care for them.” The college also has clubs and activities for the students, as well as home stay opportunities, work experience, and on-campus health care.

IPC recently joined ITI. “IPC’s staff members are strongly committed to the principles of teaching and learning. We felt that the members of ITI all have that emphasis on educational performance that is so important to us.”

Wayne says that it is also important for the college, which has strong ties to many educational institutions in Japan, to keep in touch with New Zealand’s policy development. “We are looking forward to being part of the consultation process that ITI engages in around policy, and we hope that we can make a valuable contribution to the organisation too.”