Inspiring the Future Careers Programme Expanded for Senior Secondary Students (New Zealand, June 2026)
The Tertiary Education Commission expanded the Inspiring the Future careers programme with new event formats for senior students. The update adds Career Chat, Career Discussion Group, and Role Model Interview formats.
The Tertiary Education Commission expanded the Inspiring the Future careers programme with new event formats for senior students. The update adds Career Chat, Career Discussion Group, and Role Model Interview formats.
What Changed?
The free careers programme for schools now includes three additional event formats designed to be more flexible and more relevant for older secondary students.
Old System vs New System
The programme was mainly structured around its existing event model, which was less tailored to senior secondary learners.
Schools can use new flexible formats that connect senior students with role models and career conversations in different ways.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Senior students may receive more age-appropriate career exposure and stronger links between classroom learning and future work pathways.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents may see schools offer broader career exploration activities for students approaching tertiary study, training, or work decisions.
School / Institution Impact
Schools can choose from more event formats and may be able to run career activities with less planning complexity.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers and career advisers gain more flexible programme options for senior secondary career education.
Key Dates
- Programme update announced: 2026-06-29
What To Do
- Schools should review the new event formats and consider which format best supports their senior students' career learning needs.
What To Watch Next
Further uptake by schools and any additional programme guidance from TEC should be monitored.
Global Context
The change reflects the growing policy focus on career education, school-to-work transitions, and employer engagement in secondary education.
Source Record
Source type: Official announcement
Source name: Tertiary Education Commission