Toi Ohomai front vocational education roadshow across the Bay of Plenty

Leon de wet Fourie has been running a handful of roadshows across the region. Photo / File

A vocational education roadshow put on by Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has been doing the rounds in the Bay of Plenty.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology chief executive Dr Leon de Wet Fourie hosted several events across Bay of Plenty to share some light on the changes and implications of the upcoming Reform of Vocation Education (RoVE) on the region.

The Tauranga event was held at Windermere Campus last week, where it was highlighted that the polytech will continue to deliver the widest possible mix of programmes and work in the region's best interests.

Events were also held at Whakatāne on September 19 and in Rotorua on September 24.

On October 24, Dr Fourie will be at the Taupō Yacht club to engage with business leaders and the community while also providing an update on the Taupō Tertiary Hub development.

The events were all held in collaboration with local Chambers of Commerce and gave members of the business sector and community the chance to ask questions and address any concerns about the future of vocational education in the region.

Dr Fourie said while details were still emerging, the reform was necessary to ensure that vocational education and training was future-proof, and remained relevant.

The changes announced provide a "once in a generation" opportunity for existing "accepted" models of educational delivery to be reviewed, he said.

It also allowed for them to be "innovatively redesigned" to ensure education and training packages delivered a skilled workforce and were cost effective into the future, he said.