Tertiary Education
United Future believes that every New Zealander should have access to a high quality tertiary education. For this reason one of our core policies is that every full-time tertiary student over the age of 18 should be entitled to a universal student allowance.
United Future's position is to:
- Ensure that entrance standards remain high for universities to keep universities competitive internationally.
- Encourage links and incentives between tertiary providers and industry to ensure that skills taught are relevant and required in labour market.
- Encourage all young people under 25 who are not at school to either be "earning or learning" (i.e. in some form of education/training or work) and support initiatives such as the Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs.
- Ensure that senior students have sufficient access to advice and information about career choices and opportunities for further education and training.
Continuing/Community Education
- Develop a strategy for adult and community education that determines the most appropriate provision of learning opportunities in both urban and rural settings
- Establish a network of 'rural education posts' to serve as adult and community education information centres and meeting places and providers, utilising existing educational facilities
Student Support
- Promote a universal living allowance for tertiary students.
- Ensure that students are able to cover the basics of living by increasing the accommodation supplement.