26 AUGUST NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 2555

allocate funds under the Ministerial Scheme “New Zealand Science and Technology Teacher Fellowships”.

The scheme is intended to increase the understanding of science and technology teachers about how science and technology contribute to society and the economy. Annex A details the specific nature, objectives, criteria, and funding levels applying to the scheme, and nominates the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology as the agency that is to monitor the scheme. You may choose to contract some aspects of the administration to the Royal Society.

The Foundation is to report to me on the operation of the scheme within two months of the end of each financial year. The report will review the allocations made under the scheme for that year, including factors such as amount and duration of awards, host institutions or enterprises, and nature of activity. The nature of unsuccessful bids to the scheme should be commented on.

Monitoring by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology is to comprise a commentary on the reports provided by the Foundation.

In accordance with the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, this notice will be published in the Gazette and a copy laid before the House of Representatives.

Yours sincerely

SIMON UPTON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

Annex A

Ministerial Scheme
The New Zealand Science and Technology Teacher Fellowships

Introduction—the Nature of the Scheme
The Science and Technology Teacher Fellowships scheme is intended to provide excellent science and technology teachers with an opportunity to further their understanding of the role of science and technology in New Zealand’s economy and society, to enhance their ability to deliver the new science and technology curricula, and to enable them to stimulate and enthuse their students, their colleagues, and the wider community, about qualifications and careers involving science and technology. The scheme will also more generally provide teachers with a period of refreshing experience outside the classroom environment. This refreshment will not only broaden experience but enable more effective teaching to be subsequently provided in the classroom.

The scheme is intended to complement existing schemes for teacher development. Accordingly the emphasis is on placing teachers in enterprises where the practical application of science and/or technology is a substantial element in the activities of the enterprise, rather than on retraining or upgrading of academic skills.

The scheme also has the aim of integrating science and technology teachers into New Zealand’s new science structures. Science and technology teachers have a vital role to play in developing people with the values, attitudes, skills, knowledge and creativity that are the most important factors in ensuring that the recent science reforms yield the maximum possible benefit for New Zealand.

Although there are to be no formal reporting requirements of Fellows, it is essential that spin-off benefits to students, colleagues and the wider community be maximised. Proposals submitted by applicants must address this aim, and sufficient resources must be allocated to ensure that this aspect of the programme can be effectively achieved.

Examples of benefits expected for schools and students, enterprises and the wider community are:

Benefits to Schools and Students

• increased enjoyment and appreciation of science and technology learning by students, through more innovative and relevant teaching;
• increased student confidence in teachers who are seen to be “up with the play”;
• better quality advice to students about science and technology careers;
• stimulation of other staff by visibly refreshed, motivated, knowledgeable colleagues, able to provide practical assistance with curriculum planning and classroom teaching strategies;
• ongoing relationship with enterprise, resulting in an enriched curriculum, and providing students with a stimulating, varied and relevant learning environment with a practical and applied focus, and with schools gaining a powerful network of professional support.

Benefits To Enterprise

• image of the enterprise, and understanding of its role and activities, are enhanced;
• requirements and expectations of enterprise are better communicated;
• long-term: a positive and engaged working population which can participate productively and intelligently in the science and technology-based enterprises that will be the basis for future wealth creation and economic growth of the nation.

Benefits to the Wider Community

• closer integration of school and the community;
• increased support for the school system in general, and for science and technology education in particular;
• schools are better able to respond to the needs of enterprises.

The Objectives of the Scheme
The objectives of the scheme are to enable science and technology teachers to:

• establish and maintain links between schools and New Zealand enterprises in which the primary technological activity involves the application of science;
• gain a clearer insight into the skills and qualification requirements of, and opportunities for, students moving into employment in such enterprises;
• become more effective and innovative in teaching science and technology by focusing on practical social and economic contexts, and thereby enthuse students more effectively about careers in science and technology;
• promote a culture which values science and technology in education and in enterprise, in students, teaching colleagues, the wider community and enterprise, by passing on learning and experiences gained.

Types of Activity to be Supported
A variety of programmes of different durations can be seen to be consistent with the objectives of the scheme, and considerable flexibility is indicated. Possible types of programme include:

• secondment to work in an enterprise in which the primary technological activity is the application of science, e.g. a university, Crown Research Institute, Research Association, technological industry, hospital medical physics department;
• a programme of visits to such enterprises;