Principles for the Targeted Review of the Qualifications System

A national qualifications system should:

• Clearly convey the skills and knowledge achieved by the completion of a qualification
  
  
• Ensure the relevance of qualifications by:
  • involving industry and other end-users in the development of qualifications
  • enabling qualifications to evolve and develop quickly in response to new knowledge and changing requirements of qualifications users
    
    
• Be a single system that links all qualifications so that:
  • the similarities and differences between similar qualifications are clear
  • the relationship between qualifications is clear
  • there are clear paths for progression
  • there is clear credit transfer and portability
    
    
• Provide for diversity, distinctiveness and flexibility of delivery while minimising unnecessary duplication and overlap
  
  
• Be robust, reliable and credible

The above specific principles for the targeted review of the qualifications system build on the new system for tertiary education that promotes a stronger focus on quality and relevance of education in meeting the requirements of students, employers, industry, Māori, Pasifika peoples, community groups, and other users of the qualifications system.

Page updated: 12 May 2009