They:

• support tertiary education organisations to be accountable, self-improving and self-managing
• give effect to the Government’s requirements for tertiary education as outlined in the Tertiary Education Strategy
• act in accordance with their role and responsibilities as set out in the Education Act 1989.

All forms of post-secondary school education and training come under their umbrella. This includes:

• literacy and numeracy education
• academic study
• New Zealand apprenticeships
• work-related training, and
• doctoral research.

They were established in 2003.