The New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC) have engaged BERL to quantify the demand for and supply of academic staff between 2008 and 2020. Academic staff includes teaching, research and senior academic staff.

• This is a collaborative project across the eight New Zealand universities.
• This information will be used to develop workforce strategies and address issues that are identified as part of the research process.

The need for this project comes from a concern shared by the eight New Zealand universities. This concern has been raised about the future viability of the academic workforce in New Zealand.

• The academic workforce is ageing.
• The number of staff due to retire between now and 2020 is significant.
• New Zealand academics are being attracted out of the sector and out of New Zealand.
• The number of international academic staff who are attracted to New Zealand, both as replacements and in new areas of study or research, is expected to decrease.
• The number of students expected to enrol in tertiary study between now and 2020 is expected to grow substantially.
• Population projections indicate a greater proportion of New Zealanders, and in turn tertiary students, will be Maori and Pasifika in 2020.
• Women are participating in greater numbers in the workforce. Government policy, such as 20 hours of free childcare a week, is also encouraging women to return to work or resume study after childbearing.
• The future academic workforce will need to reflect the needs of these students.

This project is an initiative of the Human Resources Committee of the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. It has received funding under the Tertiary Education Commission’s Priorities for Focus Fund.