Senator Trish Crossin welcomed the announcement today that Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) would continue to receive Federal Government funding support which will enable the Institute to continue as an independent higher educa
Date: 08 June 2010
Senator Trish Crossin welcomed the announcement today that Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) would continue to receive Federal Government funding support which will enable the Institute to continue as an independent higher education provider into the future.
Federal funding of $8.9 million has been given to BIITE for 2010 in addition to $4.8 Federal and $1.6 million from the NT Government in 2009 to allow BIITE to operate in a solvent way in 2009.
"This continuation of BIITE as an education provider is so important to the many Indigenous students and communities who have come to rely on BIITE for much of their tertiary education provision."
The funding provided will enable Batchelor to continue, and strengthen the quality of education provided through a partnership with Charles Darwin University.
This partnership will rationalise BIITE higher education course provision. All Higher Education delivery through the partnership will be jointly developed by BIITE and CDU but BIITE will remain a self accrediting higher education provider. Such joint development will ensure that student needs and concerns are taken into account.
BIITE will continue to be a major independent provider of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. It will still be a competitive training institute and have the authorisation to accredit VET courses.
An exciting new development of the partnership will be the provision of a pre tertiary enabling course for Indigenous people wanting to commence higher education. This will be held at the culturally safe environment of BIITE campus.
Charles Darwin University will take on a major role in administrative areas such as IT and records management for which they have the capacity.
"Last year BIITE was put under administration due to a range of problems at the institute. With this ongoing Federal support, BIITE is now guaranteed to continue as a Higher Education provider with their traditional two ways approach to teaching and learning. Existing BIITE community campuses will also be maintained."
"Through this partnership, Federal and NT funding, BIITE will continue to be a major tertiary education provider in its\' own right," Senator Crossin said.