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Upcoming Courses

Supporting continuous professional development through best practice learnings.

2024 Courses

EDNZ is excited to present a refreshed programme of training opportunities specifically developed for economic development practitioners keen to extend their knowledge and hone their skills. Starting from an introductory level through to masters, here's an overview of what each of the course levels provides.

COURSE LEVEL INTRODUCTIONS

All 101-level courses (white badge) introduce the theories and practices of economic development. These courses are for those entering the profession and those wishing to challenge themselves and advance their practice.

 

(Note this is the equivalent for those who already hold AcED. I.e. anyone who has undertaken training up until the end of 2023).

201-level courses (silver badge) delve deeper into contemporary and critical knowledge and practices in economic development. They are designed to challenge practitioners, allowing them to reflect on their own practices and provide an opportunity to adapt and innovate. Attendees can then share the newly built knowledge within their agencies, regions, and sectors. 

 

The 301 level (gold badge) is project-based and designed to allow practitioners to achieve mastery in their profession (beginning 2025). This will be a yearlong journey where the practitioner will work closely with an EDNZ facilitator and their employer or colleague/s to provide an applied piece of work that demonstrates mastery in the profession. This will provide a transportable Gold Level recognition from EDNZ. 

Prior learning recognition will be assessed on an individual basis. 

Should you have any queries, contact the team at enquiries@ednz.nz.

CORE COURSE DESCRIPTORS

Level 101 - a total of six credits required

Core Subjects (1 credit each)

Introduction to Economic Development

This course will provide a strong conceptual understanding of patterns of development, political economy and economic development. it will provide an understanding of your place and your economy and why it is the way it is. It will also provide frameworks for a better understanding of economic development practice.

Introduction to Regional Development

Aotearoa New Zealand will not prosper unless all of its regions prosper. In this course, you will gain a strong conceptual understanding of Regional Economic Development and develop an understanding of what's appropriate, what works, what could be better and why.

Entrepreneurship-led Economic Development (Business Growth)

This course focuses on building an understanding of new intellectual property (IP) business creation. After taking this course, participants will have a strong understanding of the role of intellectual property and the creation/exploitation of this to support new venture development. Participants will also have a stronger understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, understand their role and the role of others, and come away with skills to support entrepreneur ecosystem development.

Introduction to Māori Economic Development

You will gain an introductory insight into the Māori world and the values that underpin the Māori Economy. You will learn about the historical context to the current state of the Māori Economy and how it now operates as a Developing Economy within a Developed Economy. The programme uses interactive discussion, case analysis and presentations to facilitate learning. The programme will ask you to share your local context so we can locate the knowledge available to your local circumstances.

 

The course will help you identify the information available about the Māori Economy and Māori Economic Development. It looks at the government’s role – central and local – and the role of other industry and sector bodies. You are encouraged to bring with you ideas and questions to discuss, work on and progress.

Elective Subjects (select minimum of two, One credit each) (see descriptors in the booking system)

-          Introduction to Destination Management

-          Economic Gardening

-          Stakeholder Engagement (Lunchtime series - 45mins over three weeks)       

-          Introduction to Cluster Development

-          Conference participation

-          Congress participation

-          Further elective courses likely to be introduced

 

Timeframes:  Online - 9 am to noon, over two consecutive days.  

 

*We are happy to run these courses in person, over one day. We require a minimum of 13 attendees to participate. To learn more, please contact us at enquiries@ednz.nz.

Level 201 - total of FOUR credits required

Course Subjects (1 credit each) – choose four of the six

Innovation (including smart specialisation)

This course will examine an economic developer’s approach to supporting innovation at three levels: at the firm level, at a regional level, and at a national level. At each level it will examine contemporary best-practice for innovation through place-based approaches, system level approaches and a policy level. Comparative approaches to innovation will be examined through case studies and comparative policies.

ED professionals will come away with an in-depth understanding of the types of interventions required to support innovation in theirs and other contexts. They will also examine ED practices that require innovation such as business networks, clusters, smart specialisation and mission-oriented approaches to development such as climate change.

Māori Economic Development 201

This course will build on your learning from MED 101 and your experiences since you attended that programme with a focus on relationships and engagement. You will learn about the importance of relationships, the relevance and impact of the Treaty of Waitangi, and how to engage effectively with Māori. The programme uses interactive discussion, case analysis and presentations to facilitate learning. The programme will ask you to share your local context so we can locate the knowledge available to your local circumstances.

 

The course will help you identify the information available about the Māori Economy and Māori Economic Development in your region. You are encouraged to bring with you ideas and questions to discuss, work on and progress.

Contemporary Issues in Economic Development

This course will examine global context for economic development in New Zealand. Shifts in addressing climate change, geopolitics and (de-) globalisation, pandemics, war, trade, technology, resilience, and the changing nature of work all effect economic development practices in New Zealand. 

ED Professionals will be encouraged to examine these waves of change and our global context to reflect on their region and/or New Zealand as a whole and how we might best navigate rapidly evolving contexts to our advantage. 

Sustainable Economic Development

Building a long-term sustainable economic development strategy is a complex undertaking. It requires strong and consistent leadership, bold vision and the appropriate level of resources. But if done well, it can lay the foundation for a new and higher level of prosperity – prosperity based on growing balanced natural, social, and economic capital.

This course provides an overview of policy and practice in sustainable economic development. Participants will develop a stronger understanding of sustainable focused development activities and how these impact at global, regional, and local levels. Participants will also gain understanding of governance, innovation, investment, and development approaches to sustainable economic development strategies.

 

Investment and Business Attraction

Details to come.

Leading Economic Development Organisations (including Strategic Planning for Economic Development)

Focus on 2IC and managers, future leaders but open to and applicable for anyone

Details to come.

Timeframes: In person, two-day Academy run in April and July 2024 (available in both North and South Island). Click here to view dates and/or book, noting you can choose to undertake just one day.

  1. Day One - Māori Economic Development/Day Two - Sustainable Economic Development (April and July 2024)

  2. Day One - Innovation/Day Two - Investment and Business Attraction (April and July 2024)

  3. Day One - Contemporary Issues/Day Two - Managing-Leading-Strategic planning (April and July 2024)
     

Level 301 - available 2025.

Details on the 301 Masters will be available in mid 2024.

Here's where to view and book upcoming courses.

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