Enterprise Culture and Skills Activities Fund

About the fund
Applying for funding
Appropriate projects for funding
Some special conditions
Who to contact

About the fund

The Enterprise Culture and Skills Activities (ECSA) Fund is a key component of the NZTE strategy to build a culture of business and enterprise in New Zealand. This involves promoting attitudes, values and skills that support entrepreneurial activity, business success in New Zealand and support and promote the concept of Education for Enterprise (E4E). E4E has the potential to be a vehicle for 21st century learning.

The ECSA Fund is an annual contestable fund aimed at projects that develop enterprising skills and attitudes amongst New Zealanders This includes a broad range of groups including employers, employees, young people and groups in the community and in education. The focus is on creating sustainable partnerships that are able to create enterprise culture change in education, business and the community.

Key ECSA outcome in five years

Education institutions are successfully running cross‑curricula enterprise activities in partnership with business and the community creating 21st century learning skills in students. 21st century learning is needed for Economic Transformation and involves students carrying out authentic tasks in real world contexts such as business (as opposed to carrying out contrived exercises to accumulate facts or to practice skills that educators expect them to need to repeat in the future).

To achieve this outcome it is expected successful projects will focus on:

leadership in business, community and education
activities that encourage risk taking, paradigm shifts, innovation, enterprising attributes
changing the frameworks that business, community and education operate in to assist the shift from 20th century thinking to 21st century thinking
resources or tools that will assist all sectors (business, community and education) to understand and undertake change
sustainable and diverse partnerships between business, community and education.

A total of $1.51 million (excluding GST) is available this funding year (2008/09). Projects can be funded up to a maximum of $266,600 (excluding GST). Two year projects are encouraged.

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Applying for Funding

Applications are now being accepted for ECSA Fund - Round Eight.

Please read the Criteria and Guidelines for Applications prior to making any application for funding.

Please download the ECSA Fund Application 2008 form.

Applications will only be accepted on the appropriate ECSA Fund Application 2008 form. The electronic copy of the application must be received no later than 11.00am Monday 4 August 2008. This should include the applicant’s CV. Two hard copies of the application and any additional supporting material must be received by NZTE in Christchurch no later than 5.00pm Wednesday 6 August 2008 to complete your application.

All project applications will be assessed under the same assessment process:

Project eligibility will be assessed as outlined in the Criteria and Guidelines for Applications document
Assessment is by the ECSA Assessment Panel, which consists of representatives from MED, MoE, NZTE, an independent entrepreneur, representatives from Chamber of Commerce, Business NZ, and SBAG
Final approval of the projects recommended by the ECSA Panel is by the NZTE Board.

Applications will be processed as they are received and ineligible applicants will be notified as soon as possible. A final decision on the successful projects is expected to be made by the end of September 2008.

The ECSA Fund application requirements are provided as part of the application form.

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Appropriate projects for funding

Applications for funding must contribute to one or more of the following objectives:

A social culture that positively supports entrepreneurial activity and business success
A climate which recognises and reinforces business success amongst existing and potential businesses
A culture in education where business is seen as a positive contributor to society and a worthwhile career
Students developing enterprising attitudes and behaviours including business-related skills

To find our more please read the Criteria and Guidelines for Applications.

Information on previously funded ECSA projects can be downloaded from the list below:

Projects funded May 2007 (Round 6)

Projects funded July 2005 (Round 5)

Projects funded August 2004 (Round 4)

Projects funded in January - June 2004 (Round 3)

Projects funded in August 2002 (Round 2)

Projects funded in May 2002 (Round 1)

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Some special conditions

Applicants must demonstrate involvement of project partners from the private sector who provide credibility and significant practical and financial support
New projects of two years duration are encouraged
Funds must be spent in New Zealand for the benefit of New Zealanders

Please read the Criteria and Guidelines for Applications prior to making any application for funding.

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