Josh Williams describes the development of vocational pathways under the New Zealand Youth Guarantee.

1. Learning Through Work Symposium
Edinburgh, November 4, 2014

2. Year 9 of 2007
=1,000

3. Where are they now?
left after Y11
left after Y12
left after Y13
Enrolled in degrees 2012
bachelors degrees by 2017

4. “It is long past time that we
broaden the range of high quality
pathways that we offer to our
young people, beginning in high
school. The lessons from other
countries strongly suggests that
this might be the single most
promising strategy for increasing
the percentage of young adults
who earn a post-secondary degree
or credential that prepares them
to embark on a meaningful
career.”
Pathways to Prosperity, Harvard
University, Feb 2011
Transitions

5. National Certificate of Educational Achievement
“A specific intention of the NCEA
was to open up multiple
pathways through the senior
secondary school, providing more
flexibility in the subject
combinations available to students
with different learning needs and
different beyond-school pathways
in mind.”

6. Students…
“Why are we learning this?”

7. Parents…
“
The first two were fine –
they went to university.
But the third one, we
didn’t know what to do.”

8. New choices, opportunities,
and learning environments.
Clearer pathways to further
education and work.
Successful transitions to
employment.
10,500 fees-free places in Level 1-3
tertiary programmes for 16-19 year olds
5,250 places for students in
secondary-tertiary partnership
programmes
6 sector-based pathways to further study
and employment

10. Improve relevance and motivation for
learners
Inform learners about future work and study
possibilities
A common and coherent framework for
foundational education across secondary
and tertiary education
Contextualised learning for skills
development
Strengthen connections between education
and employment
Successful transitions to work and study.

11. 4
4 4

12. 3
3
3
3
3
3

13. 5

14. primary
industries
social &
community
services
service
industries
manufacturing
& technology
construction &
infrastructure
12 3 3 7 3
Ag/Hort 1.10 5 credits
Chemistry 1.5
4 credits 4 credits
Maths 1.5 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits
“I left sc““IhI’m o“woI agll i“nkoaI etind n tduSog n tcbthnoieeio sn u” aicns eci ”w”hehfa”t I did”
creative
industries
7
4 credits
3 credits

20. “Vocational” includes “Academic”
Accountant, Accounts Officer, Actor, Actuary, Acupuncturist, Administration Officer, Advertising Specialist, Advertising, Sales and Marketing
Manager, Aeronautical Engineer, Aeroplane Pilot, Agricultural Technician, Agricultural/Horticultural Consultant, Agricultural/Horticultural Scientist, Air Force
Airman/Airwoman, Air Force Officer, Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Loader, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Aircraft Refueller, Ambulance Officer, Anaesthetic
Technician, Anaesthetist, Animal Attendant, Animator/Illustrator, Aquaculture Farmer, Arborist, Architect, Architectural Technician, Archivist, Army Officer,
Army Soldier, Art Director (Film/Television/Stage), Artist, Artistic Director, Auctioneer, Audiologist/Audiometrist, Auditor, Author, Automotive Electrician,
Automotive Mechanic, Baker, Bank Worker, Barrister, Bartender, Beauty Therapist, Beekeeper, Bicycle Mechanic, Biochemist, Biomedical Engineer,
Biomedical Technician (Mechanical and Electronic), Biosecurity Officer, Biotechnologist, Boat Builder, Body Artist, Boiler Attendant, Brewer, Bricklayer,
Building Contractor, Building Inspector, Building Insulator, Bus Driver, Butcher, Buyer, Cabinet Maker, Cafe Worker, Cafe/Restaurant Manager, Camping
Ground Manager, Cardiac Technician, Caretaker, Carpenter, Carpet Cleaner, Cashier, Casino Worker, Check-in Agent, Chef, Chemical Engineer, Chemical
Production Operator, Chemist, Chiropractor, Cinema Projectionist, Civil Engineer, Civil Engineering Technician/Draughtsperson, Cleaner, Clinical Coder,
Clothing Designer, Clothing Marker/Cutter, Clothing Pattern Maker, Community Karitane, Community Worker, Computer Systems Technician, Concrete
Worker, Conservator, Construction Manager, Contact Centre Worker, Cook, Copywriter, Corrections Officer, Counsellor, Courier/Postie, Crane Operator,
Crop Farm Worker, Crop Farmer, Curator, Customs Officer, Customs/Freight Broker, Dairy Farmer, Dairy Products Maker, Dancer, Database/Systems
Administrator, Debt Collector, Deckhand, Delivery Driver, Demonstrator, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Dental Technician, Dental Therapist, Dentist,
Diagnostic Radiologist, Dietitian, Director (Film/Television/Radio/Stage), Dispensing Optician, Diver, Dimensional Therapist, Dog Trainer, Driller, Driving
Instructor, Early Childhood Teacher, Earthmoving Machine Operator, Economist, Editor, Education Adviser, Elected Government Representative, Electrical
Engineer, Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrician, Electronics Engineer, Electronics Trades Worker, Emergency Management Officer, Energy and
Chemical Plant Operator, Energy Auditor, Engineering Machinist, Entertainer, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Scientist,
Events Manager, Exhibition Technician, Fabrication Engineer, Farm Worker, Farmer/Farm Manager, Fast Food Manager, Fencer, Film and Video Editor,
Film/Television Camera Operator, Finance Manager, Financial Adviser, Financial Dealer, Firefighter, Fishery Officer, Fishing Skipper, Fitness Instructor, Flight
Attendant, Floor and Wall Tiler, Floor Covering Installer, Florist, Flying Instructor, Food and Beverage Factory Worker , Food Technologist, Foreign Policy
Officer, Forensic Scientist, Forester, Forestry and logging worker, Forestry Scientist, Fork-Lift Operator, Funeral Director/Embalmer, Furniture Finisher,
Furniture Packer/Mover, Game Developer, Gardener, General Labourer, General Practitioner, Geologist, Geophysicist, Glass Processor, Glazier, Graphic
Designer, Graphic Pre-Press Worker, Groundsperson, Gunsmith, Gynaecologist/Obstetrician, Hairdresser/Barber, Harbour Pilot, Health and Safety Adviser,
Health and Safety Inspector, Health Promoter , Health Services Manager, Heavy Truck Driver, Helicopter Pilot, Helpdesk Operator, Historian, Horse Trainer,
Hotel Porter, Hotel/Motel Manager, Housekeeper, Human Resources Adviser, Hunter/Trapper, Immigration Officer, Importer/Exporter, Industrial Designer,
Industrial Spray Painter, Information and Communication Technology Manager, Inshore Launchmaster, Insurance Agent, Insurance Claims Officer, Insurance
Loss Adjuster, Interior Designer, Interpreter, Jeweller, Joiner, Journalist, Judge, Kaiwhakaako Maori, Kitchenhand, Landscape Architect, Landscape Gardener,
Laundry Worker/Dry-Cleaner, Legal Executive, Librarian, Library Assistant, Lift Technician, Light Technician, Line Mechanic, Linguist, Locksmith, Mail Sorter,
Maitre d'Hotel, Make Up Artist, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Marine Biologist, Marine Engineer, Market Research Analyst, Massage Therapist, Meat
Inspector, Meat/Seafood Process Worker, Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Technician, Media Producer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical
Laboratory Technician, Medical Radiation Technologist, Medical Radiation Therapist, Metal Worker, Meteorologist, Microbiologist, Midwife, Mine/Quarry
Manager, Miner/Quarry Worker, Mining Engineer, Minister of Religion, Model, Mortgage Broker, Motor Vehicle Salesperson, Musician, Nanny/Child Carer,
Natural Health Therapist, Naval Architect/Boat Designer, Navy Officer, Navy Sailor, Nursery Grower/Worker, Nursing Support and Care Worker, Occupational
Therapist, Office Manager, Optometrist, Osteopath, Outdoor Recreation Guide/Instructor, Packhouse Worker, Painter and Decorator, Panelbeater, Parking
Warden, Pathologist, Payroll Officer, Personal Assistant, Pest Controller, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomist, Photographer, Photographic
Developer/Printer, Physician, Physicist, Physiologist, Physiotherapist, Picture Framer, Plasterer, Plastics Technician, Plastics Worker, Plumber and Gasfitter,
Podiatrist, Police Officer, Policy Analyst, Primary School Teacher, Print Finisher, Printer, Private Teacher/Tutor, Probation Officer, Product Assembler,
Production Assistant (Film/Television/Radio/Stage), Production Manager, Professional Sportsperson, Programmer, Project Manager, Property Manager,
Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Public Relations Professional, Pulp and Paper Mill Operator, Purchasing/Supply Officer, Quantity Surveyor, Quarantine Inspector,
Radiation Oncologist, Radio Presenter, Railway Shunter, Ranger, Real Estate Agent, Receptionist, Records Adviser, Recreation Co-ordinator, Recruitment
Consultant, Recycler/Dismantler, Refrigeration/Air-conditioning Technician, Registered Nurse, Retail Manager, Retail Sales Assistant, Roading Construction
Worker, Roadmarker, Roofer, Rubbish/Recycling Collector, Sales Representative, Saw Doctor, Scaffolder, School Principal, Science Technician, Screen Printer,
Secondary School Teacher, Secretary, Security Officer/Guard, Service Station Attendant, Sewing Machinist, Shearer, Ship's Master, Ship's Officer, Signwriter,
Social Worker, Software Architect, Solicitor, Sound Technician, Special Education Teacher, Speech-Language Therapist, Sports Coach/Official, Statistician,
Sterilising Technician, Stevedore, Stock and Station Agent, Stonemason, Storeperson, Street/Park Cleaner, Surgeon, Survey Interviewer, Survey Technician,
Surveyor, Systems Analyst, TAB Operator, Tailor/Dressmaker, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Teacher Aide, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL),
Technical Writer, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications Technician, Telemarketer, Television Presenter, Tertiary Lecturer, Textile Process
Operator, Toolmaker, Tour Guide, Tow Truck Operator, Train Conductor, Train Controller, Train Driver, Trainer, Translator, Travel Agent/Adviser, Typist/Data
Entry Operator, Tyre Technician, Upholsterer, Urban/Regional Planner, Valuer, Vehicle Body Builder/Trimmer, Vehicle Groomer/Cleaner, Vehicle Painter,
Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse, Visual Merchandiser, Waiter/Waitress, Watchmaker and Repairer, Water/Waste Water Treatment Operator, Web Developer,
Website Administrator, Welder, Window Cleaner, Winemaker, Wood Machinist, Wood Processing Worker, Wool Classer, Workplace Relations Adviser, Youth
Worker, Zookeeper, Zoologist

21. Education is not just about employment...
Education is not just about getting jobs!
We’re teaching kids to read and write;
think; solve problems; sort and evaluate
information; communicate; manage
themselves; work with others; participate;
and become good citizens.

22. ...but employment is always about education.
Just give us kids who can read and write;
think; solve problems; sort and evaluate
information; communicate; manage
themselves; work with others; participate;
and be good citizens.
…we’ll do the rest!

23. Key messages
Vocational pathways provide new ways to structure and
achieve NCEA level 2, recognised as the passport to
success in further study and employment.
Vocational Pathways present clear vocational options as
credible choices for learners that lead to valuable study and
work destinations.
Vocational Pathways identify the skills, knowledge, and
competencies recommended by a broad cross-section of
industry at a broad and foundational level.
Vocational Pathways improve the relevance of learning by
showing students where and how their learning and
achievement will be valued in further study and/or
employment.
Vocational Pathways provide a simplified and coherent
framework for foundational vocational education across and
between secondary and tertiary education.
Vocational Pathways improve the alignment between the
education system, and the wider needs of society and the
economy.