Latest news with #Capable
Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Capable NZ set to lose 20 jobs
Otago Polytechnic staff are feeling "like stunned mullets" after the institution cut 20 jobs from a ground-breaking department. Staff were informed of the decision on Thursday to cut the Capable NZ department from about 30FTEs to nine FTES and an additional head of college role, after a proposal was put forward in March. Despite staff fighting for more jobs to be kept, management at Otago Polytechnic agreed on a rate of job cuts very similar to the March proposal. A staff member, who did not wish to be named, said people were "like stunned mullets" when they heard the news. "We expected a bit of pain, but nothing of this level. "The staff will try to teach the material to a gold-standard level, but it becomes increasingly difficult with far less staff support." Capable NZ allows students to apply and start any time and complete the required work from anywhere in New Zealand. Qualifications earned through Capable NZ have the same value as those earned through normal Otago Polytechnic programmes, or other tertiary institutions. Capable NZ had at its height more than 500 students. This had dropped to about 270 last year. The polytechnic blamed the ongoing effects of Covid-19 and the fact it was a politically fraught environment. Otago Polytechnic deputy executive director Mark Cartwright said "despite the change in structure, it's important to emphasise there will be no cuts to existing programmes". "We believe Capable NZ provides an important and meaningful service to our community and are committed to its continued delivery. "The purpose of the change is to ensure we are operating in a financially sustainable way. "We will move the Capable NZ department and all of its programmes to sit under Te Maru Pumanawa (TMP), our College of Creative Practice and Enterprise." Former Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said this week's announcement of cutbacks to Capable NZ, "represents a real vote of no confidence" in the department. He said many of the problems could be traced back to the merging of the country's 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) into the mega-polytechnic Te Pukenga. "At the advent of Te Pukenga, Capable NZ was the largest school at Otago Polytechnic, with nationwide coverage and offering highly innovative and unique programmes. That was why it had so many staff. "So, clearly it's fallen on hard times. What I am aware of is that there was considerable neglect on the marketing and promotion front across many aspects of Te Pukenga. "I've got no doubts that Capable NZ would have suffered from that." Mr Ker said despite these barriers, he was confident Capable NZ could rise again if managed properly. "The Capable NZ approach, which is at the undergraduate level, is still highly innovative in a global context, let alone in a New Zealand context. "It offers access to degree-level qualifications for people in work. That is as cost-effective as you can get. "So it seems to me that any downturn could easily be counteracted by a well-planned and well-focused marketing and recruitment programme." Staff told the Otago Daily Times they were worried about the bulk of the programme's institutional memory disappearing. Tertiary Education Union assistant secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu said Capable NZ was unique to Otago Polytechnic in that it was neither an "on campus" course or a "work-based learning" course. "People flocked to it outside of the polytechnic's catchment area," Mr Benson-Guiu said. "A programme like this allows the polytechnic to have a more national focus, which is what's needed to ensure student numbers remain good." Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds is due to make an announcement next month about which polytechnics will become autonomous and which ones remain in a "federation" model. Otago Polytechnic has frequently expressed a desire to become autonomous again. Mr Cartwright said Otago Polytechnic needed to "ensure the financial viability of our organisation to be able to stand alone". Asked about Mr Ker's comments about the job cuts being a "vote of no confidence" in Capable NZ, Mr Cartwright said "this difficult decision is in no way a reflection of the amazing work the team does, or the unique products they offer". "It is the result of steadily declining enrolments. The changes will ensure we are able to continue to provide these products and services in a financially viable way."
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Te Pukenga break-up Bill being introduced
Legislation breaking up mega-polytechnic Te Pūkenga will be brought to Parliament this week, but questions still remain about the eventual structure. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds will introduce the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill to Parliament more than 18 months after she first signalled Te Pūkenga would be disestablished. Te Pūkenga was formally established in April 2020, the 16 former institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) becoming its subsidiaries. "The government is committed to replacing the failed Te Pūkenga experiment with a financially sustainable, regionally responsive vocational education and training system that delivers the skills and training New Zealand needs. "We're committed to a smooth transition, with as little disruption for learners and employers as possible. The disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and the establishment of the new industry skills boards is about building a stronger, more resilient vocational system to bring certainty, improve access and support economic growth." Ms Simmonds had previously criticised Te Pūkenga as being too big and centralised for delivering vocational education outcomes; and proposed breaking it up into a mixture of stand-alone polytechnics and those operating under a federation model. However, it is not yet known which polytechnics will have their autonomy fully restored — Ms Simmonds said yesterday these decisions would be made in "the middle of the year". Tertiary Education Union general secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu said Ms Simmonds "has been allowed to make it up as she goes along". "The proposed Bill introduced to Parliament is complicated. There are a lot of changes that boil down to drawing out this disestablishment of Te Pūkenga for longer, affecting all staff and students. "There's still no indication of which polytechnics will stand alone, which will merge and which will be federated — the Bill says all of that will be at the discretion of the minister." Otago Polytechnic executive director Max Sims said Otago Polytech had not yet decided whether to submit on the Bill, but encouraged those interested in the reform to do so. "We are still focused on engaging with Ms Simmonds and Te Pūkenga to ensure Otago Polytechnic has a viable future, and we continue working towards becoming a standalone institution once again "The minister did meet the executive directors from all of the country's ITPs [polytechnics] in Wellington on Monday [May 12] — including our executive director, Megan Pōtiki — to update them on the Bill and the government's restructuring proposals, and to hear updates from individual ITPs. "We continue to work through a series of work streams (including the reviews of Capable NZ and our professoriate) to ensure we're in a financially sustainable position in the future." Over the past year, Otago Polytechnic has gone through several waves of restructures in a bid to remain financially sustainable and autonomous. It cut nine programmes late last year, and proposes to drastically downscale Capable NZ, which was once the most popular course at the polytechnic.
Sharjah 24
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Al Sharqiya launches new shows from Kalba
The new programmes represent the Eastern Region's distinct culture and breathtaking beauty while appealing to a wide range of societal interests. Among the new programmes gaining popularity is "Baraem Al Shi'r (Buds of Poetry)," which airs every Monday at 8:30 p.m. The show takes viewers on a delightful journey into the realm of poetry by featuring a group of young poets from the Eastern Region. It's hosted by Omar Ahmed and set up by Dima Hamad. Ali Al Naqbi hosts the show "Qadha" (Capable), which focusses on youth. This dynamic programme combines excitement and intellect in a structure rich in exciting sporting challenges and cerebral competitions. It airs every Saturday at 8:00 PM. Al Sharqiya from Kalba continues to focus on environmental diversity with "Fi Al Mahmiyyat" (In the Reserves)," which takes viewers on exploratory tours of nature reserves in the Eastern Region, including the mangrove reserve, Al Hefaiyah Reserve, and the Kalba Bird of Prey Centre. The programme, which airs every Monday at 8:00 p.m., emphasises ongoing efforts to safeguard these biologically rich habitats. "Kunuz Jabaliyyah" (Mountain Treasures) airs every Wednesday at 8:00 PM and takes viewers deep into the mountainous regions. It delves into the history of the area's inhabitants, from traditional dwellings and food sources to crafts and folk medicine, using a narrative approach to document the spectacular mountains' environmental and cultural heritage. Nawal Rashid Al Naqbi, Program Director of Al Sharqiya in Kalba, reaffirmed the channel's commitment to providing media content that reflects the Eastern Region's uniqueness, natural and cultural diversity, and appeals to a diverse audience. She continued, "In our new programmes, we concentrated on promoting local talent, raising environmental awareness, and providing purposeful entertainment. Through these shows, we hope to establish the channel's reputation as a trustworthy voice representing Sharjah's Eastern Region while also emphasising its human potential and natural assets. We will continue to create material that aligns with our viewers' goals, promoting national identity and recognising local ingenuity."
CNN
14-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
These are the biggest concerns facing teen boys and girls
Summary Teen boys and girls share concerns about school pressure and mental health but may need different kinds of support, a Pew Research Center survey found. Both prioritize finding careers they hope to enjoy, making money and cultivating friendships in the future. Girls reported more pressure to fit in socially and look good, while boys felt they should be strong and good at sports. Most teens reported having a close friend, but the percentage for boys was lower compared with that of girls who have friends for emotional support. Teens perceive girls as experiencing more anxiety and depression, while boys are seen as struggling more with substance abuse and fighting. If you feel like your teen is a mystery, new data may help give you a better look inside their world. While teen boys and girls are facing many of the same issues, including school pressure and mental health concerns, they may need different kinds of support, according to a Pew Research Center Survey published Thursday. 'One of our main objectives with the research was trying to understand the challenges that teens are facing these days, and specifically how they're experiencing school, and whether these things differ by gender,' said Kim Parker, Pew's director of social trends research. 'We've been doing a lot of work this year on men and masculinity, and part of that conversation involves what's happening with boys and girls.' The survey was conducted September 18 through October 10 among 1,391 teens ages 13 to 17. While the data did show differences among them –– such as girls reporting more of a pressure to fit in socially and look good while boys said they felt they should be strong and good at sports more often –– many of their perspectives were similar. Both girls and boys said it was highly important to find a career they enjoy, making money and cultivating friendships in the future, according to the data. 'We are prone to negatively stereotyping teenagers as superficial in their interests, and these results are an excellent reminder that teenagers are serious about the schoolwork they're doing now, and they are looking ahead to their careers,' said psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, author of 'The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents.' She was not involved in the report. The pressure to perform Teen boys and girls alike reported they felt pressure to get good grades, according to the data. And for those who didn't see it as an even split, both teen girls and boys perceived girls as getting better grades and being favored by teachers, the report showed. What they perceive matches existing data that shows girls on average do tend to get better grades than boys, Damour said. But grades aren't a zero-sum game –– the success of girls in school doesn't have to mean boys do worse, said Dr. Annie Maheux, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Winston Family Distinguished Fellow at the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain and Psychological Development. The disparity might be a sign that something in schooling isn't working for boys as well as it should, noted Maheux, who wasn't involved in the survey. 'Schools are set up in such a way that kids who sit still and are less impulsive are going to do well, and we know that there's a big difference in brain development in early adolescence, and that the part of the brain that's used for health control and critical thinking develops later in boys than girls,' said Michelle Icard, a parenting educator and speaker. 'We are teaching to half of the audience and need to broaden the way we approach education,' said Icard, who wasn't involved in the report. More activity and teaching styles that incorporate hands-on learning, for example, might help teen boys do better academically, said Icard, author of 'Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen: The Essential Conversations You Need to Have With Your Kids Before They Start High School.' Support in friendships There is good and bad news when it comes to what teens said about their friendships. Only 2% of teens said that they didn't have any friends, according to the Pew report. And while that number of those without friends would ideally be zero, it is lower than expected and feels positive, Icard said. Friendships are especially important in adolescent years, she added. 'Teens are at an age where they're less likely to turn to an adult for support. They're naturally going to reach out to their peers before looking to an adult, and peers can be great ushers to adults as needed,' Icard said. 'But if you don't have someone who says, 'Hey, this is a problem you should talk to a grown-up about,' then that can be dangerous.' Although most boys reported they had a close friend they could turn to for support, the number was lower (85%) compared with that of girls (95%) who said they could turn to a friend for support, the data showed. 'We need to try to lose the mythology that boys don't make close relationships,' Damour said. But at the same time, 'we need to take very seriously that we continue to socialize boys to feel that vulnerable emotions are unacceptable. And so long as we're doing that, we're going to have boys and adult men who don't enjoy the strong social support they deserve.' Different expressions of mental health There was a difference in how teen boys and girls perceived their struggles: Both said that girls were more likely to experience anxiety and depression and boys were more likely to struggle with substance abuse, fighting and class disruptions, according to the data. But those findings don't mean that one group is experiencing mental health concerns and the other is just facing a behavioral issue, Damour said. 'Under mental health, we should fold in the finding that boys are more likely to engage in physical fights,' she said. 'One of our well-established understandings as clinicians is that when girls are in distress, they have been socialized to collapse in on themselves –– they're more likely to experience anxiety and depression. When boys are in distress, they are more likely to act out and get themselves in trouble.' While disciplinary action might be appropriate when a teen is abusing substances or acting out, it is important that such punishment is paired with an understanding that the behavior comes from suffering, which needs to be addressed, too, Damour said. 'When we see anger in a teenage boy, we think, 'Well, that's not depression,' but it might be. Or if you see a boy who's acting recklessly, you might think, 'Oh, he's a daredevil,'' Icard added. 'That behavior is a reflection of feeling untethered to other people. So, I wouldn't presume that boys feel less anxious and less depressed.'
CNN
14-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
These are the biggest concerns facing teen boys and girls
Summary Teen boys and girls share concerns about school pressure and mental health but may need different kinds of support, a Pew Research Center survey found. Both prioritize finding careers they hope to enjoy, making money and cultivating friendships in the future. Girls reported more pressure to fit in socially and look good, while boys felt they should be strong and good at sports. Most teens reported having a close friend, but the percentage for boys was lower compared with that of girls who have friends for emotional support. Teens perceive girls as experiencing more anxiety and depression, while boys are seen as struggling more with substance abuse and fighting. If you feel like your teen is a mystery, new data may help give you a better look inside their world. While teen boys and girls are facing many of the same issues, including school pressure and mental health concerns, they may need different kinds of support, according to a Pew Research Center Survey published Thursday. 'One of our main objectives with the research was trying to understand the challenges that teens are facing these days, and specifically how they're experiencing school, and whether these things differ by gender,' said Kim Parker, Pew's director of social trends research. 'We've been doing a lot of work this year on men and masculinity, and part of that conversation involves what's happening with boys and girls.' The survey was conducted September 18 through October 10 among 1,391 teens ages 13 to 17. While the data did show differences among them –– such as girls reporting more of a pressure to fit in socially and look good while boys said they felt they should be strong and good at sports more often –– many of their perspectives were similar. Both girls and boys said it was highly important to find a career they enjoy, making money and cultivating friendships in the future, according to the data. 'We are prone to negatively stereotyping teenagers as superficial in their interests, and these results are an excellent reminder that teenagers are serious about the schoolwork they're doing now, and they are looking ahead to their careers,' said psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, author of 'The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents.' She was not involved in the report. The pressure to perform Teen boys and girls alike reported they felt pressure to get good grades, according to the data. And for those who didn't see it as an even split, both teen girls and boys perceived girls as getting better grades and being favored by teachers, the report showed. What they perceive matches existing data that shows girls on average do tend to get better grades than boys, Damour said. But grades aren't a zero-sum game –– the success of girls in school doesn't have to mean boys do worse, said Dr. Annie Maheux, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Winston Family Distinguished Fellow at the Winston National Center on Technology Use, Brain and Psychological Development. The disparity might be a sign that something in schooling isn't working for boys as well as it should, noted Maheux, who wasn't involved in the survey. 'Schools are set up in such a way that kids who sit still and are less impulsive are going to do well, and we know that there's a big difference in brain development in early adolescence, and that the part of the brain that's used for health control and critical thinking develops later in boys than girls,' said Michelle Icard, a parenting educator and speaker. 'We are teaching to half of the audience and need to broaden the way we approach education,' said Icard, who wasn't involved in the report. More activity and teaching styles that incorporate hands-on learning, for example, might help teen boys do better academically, said Icard, author of 'Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen: The Essential Conversations You Need to Have With Your Kids Before They Start High School.' Support in friendships There is good and bad news when it comes to what teens said about their friendships. Only 2% of teens said that they didn't have any friends, according to the Pew report. And while that number of those without friends would ideally be zero, it is lower than expected and feels positive, Icard said. Friendships are especially important in adolescent years, she added. 'Teens are at an age where they're less likely to turn to an adult for support. They're naturally going to reach out to their peers before looking to an adult, and peers can be great ushers to adults as needed,' Icard said. 'But if you don't have someone who says, 'Hey, this is a problem you should talk to a grown-up about,' then that can be dangerous.' Although most boys reported they had a close friend they could turn to for support, the number was lower (85%) compared with that of girls (95%) who said they could turn to a friend for support, the data showed. 'We need to try to lose the mythology that boys don't make close relationships,' Damour said. But at the same time, 'we need to take very seriously that we continue to socialize boys to feel that vulnerable emotions are unacceptable. And so long as we're doing that, we're going to have boys and adult men who don't enjoy the strong social support they deserve.' Different expressions of mental health There was a difference in how teen boys and girls perceived their struggles: Both said that girls were more likely to experience anxiety and depression and boys were more likely to struggle with substance abuse, fighting and class disruptions, according to the data. But those findings don't mean that one group is experiencing mental health concerns and the other is just facing a behavioral issue, Damour said. 'Under mental health, we should fold in the finding that boys are more likely to engage in physical fights,' she said. 'One of our well-established understandings as clinicians is that when girls are in distress, they have been socialized to collapse in on themselves –– they're more likely to experience anxiety and depression. When boys are in distress, they are more likely to act out and get themselves in trouble.' While disciplinary action might be appropriate when a teen is abusing substances or acting out, it is important that such punishment is paired with an understanding that the behavior comes from suffering, which needs to be addressed, too, Damour said. 'When we see anger in a teenage boy, we think, 'Well, that's not depression,' but it might be. Or if you see a boy who's acting recklessly, you might think, 'Oh, he's a daredevil,'' Icard added. 'That behavior is a reflection of feeling untethered to other people. So, I wouldn't presume that boys feel less anxious and less depressed.'
