Waikato Leaders > Smarter Futures

Waikato Leaders are coming together to build stronger communities around schools so all students will know about: The Future of Work and Pathways to Waikato Growth Industries.

Large-scale Collaboration

This Community of Support is being amassed to assist with student attendance, raise aspirations and pave the way for Smarter Futures for both young people and the region.

Lead by Smart Waikato Trust and spearheaded by Business Leaders from Priority Sectors*, Smarter Futures is an initiative where collectively-funded facilitators will work with the region’s 50 secondary schools and 100s of employers region-wide.

*Regional Priority Sectors; Food and Farming, Advanced Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics, Technology, Energy & High Value Tourism. Enabled by: Construction and Infrastructure, Education, Health, Business Services.

Supporting Schools – Guiding Students – Smarter Futures for All

Solution: Activating impactful opportunities

Smarter Futures Facilitators will activate Waikato’s award-winning, proven Secondary School – Employer Partnerships (SSEP), and additional opportunities for schools.

Read the media release

The Need

Ministry of Education figures show that last year less than half of the region’s 81,000 students were regularly attending school, with 14% or 8800 of the region’s young people not in education, employment or training.

We are calling on leaders to work together now to prevent “serious risk” to young people and the region’s future prosperity

“Waikato is falling behind the rest of the country in engagement and achievement at school and its up to us as a region to fix that. We have a solution that’s evidenced and ready to go. The potential positive economic and social impact of Smarter Futures Waikato is vast.”

– Mary Jensen, Smart Waikato Chief Executive

Collaborative 3-year Funding Model

Just $360K per annum. The funds will pay for 3 regional facilitators – and their costs. Funds will be raised from corporate, government, philanthropic organisations and schools.

If you are interested in supporting Smarter Futures Waikato, please contact Sally Birch – [email protected]

VIP Leadership Summits 2015, 2017 and July 2nd 2024

Smarter Futures Waikato launched with a VIP Leadership Summit for Secondary School Principals, their Boards and Industry Leaders, at the University of Waikato.