New Zealand Diploma in Business prescription information

Purpose of prescriptions
National and local prescriptions
Prescription availability
Prescription credit
NZDipBus national prescription development and review
NZDipBus local prescription approval

Purpose of prescriptions

The purpose of a New Zealand Diploma in Business (NZDipBus) prescription is to specify learning outcomes and other assessment requirements for a subject. It does not prescribe teaching methods or other aspects of course delivery.

National and local prescriptions

National prescriptions are developed by NZQA or its delegated agent and are available for use by any Tertiary Education Organisation (TEO) accredited to offer NZDipBus courses. (Please note that some TEOs may be accredited to offer only specific prescriptions rather than the whole range of prescriptions.)

Local prescriptions are developed by individual TEOs for content not covered by national prescriptions but for which there is local industry demand. Local prescriptions must go through an NZQA approval process before they can be offered for unspecified credit to the NZDipBus.

Prescription availability

View the list of approved national prescriptions available for assessment.

100-200 prescriptions

All but one of the 100-200 prescriptions expired on 31 December 2008. The exception is 227 Entrepreneurial Planning, which has an expiry date of 31 December 2009. The expired prescriptions can no longer be used for assessment (including assessment of prior learning - APL/RPL) or credit transfer.

Copies of 100-200 prescriptions can be obtained by contacting Tertiary Assessment and Moderation on phone 04 463 3000 or email tam@nzqa.govt.nz

400-600 prescriptions

Most of these prescriptions have been available for assessment since January 2006 and replace the 100-200 prescriptions from 31 December 2008 onwards.

View transition arrangements for version two of the NZDipBus.

A explanation of the 400-600 prescription format is also available.

Prescription credit

The NZDipBus qualification allows students to gain credits towards prescriptions as specified credits and unspecified credits.

"Specified credit" refers to credit achieved for a national prescription through assessment against that national prescription.

"Unspecified credit" refers to credit achieved for a local prescription through assessment against that local prescription.

Further information about unspecified credit, specified credit transfer, unspecified credit transfer and related results reporting codes can be found in the publication Assessment Rules and Procedures for granting of the New Zealand Diploma in Business 2009.

NZDipBus national prescription development and review

Prescriptions are developed or reviewed as the need is identified and/or according to a published schedule.

In some cases, legislation that affects a prescription may be enacted before there is time for the prescription to be reviewed. Lecturers/tutors should be aware of such changes, and build any changes required by new legislation into their teaching programmes.

National external (NZQA) moderation decisions about TEO assessment material will be based on current legislation, standards, regulations and industry/business practice relevant to the subject at the time of related course delivery.

Any individual or organisation may make suggestions for national prescription development or review to NZQA's Tertiary Assessment and Moderation (TAM) team or the National Advisory Committee for Business Studies (NACBS). Because they are national prescriptions, a suggestion from a national organisation, or through the Business Co-ordination Forum (BCF) of ITP New Zealand made on behalf of a number of TEOs, is more likely to be considered than one received from an individual person or institution. A suggestion for a prescription's development or review should be supported by a rationale.

Prescription development or review is authorised by NZQA on the recommendation of the NACBS. Once authorised, the process is as follows:

• TAM, in consultation with the Academic Committee of the NACBS, will determine the process for each development or review, including the timeframe and the consultation to be undertaken. Typically, a committee will be formed to complete the task.
• Committees will typically consist of three persons, including training provider and industry representatives. Nominations are sought from national provider and industry organisations.

TEOs are encouraged to provide feedback at any time to TAM on approved national prescriptions. Feedback will help inform prescription review. Use the form available opposite.

The processes for clarification and review of the 400-600 of prescriptions were notified to TEOs in tertiary circular T2008/007 (opposite) .

NZDipBus local prescription approval

A local prescription must be approved by NZQA before:

• promotion to learners as a potential source of NZDipBus unspecified credit
• results can be reported as unspecified credit to the NZDipBus.

The approval process includes review and endorsement by the NACBS, which normally meets three times per year. Submission dates for these meetings are advertised in tertiary circulars reporting on each NACBS meeting.

Submissions

TEOs wishing to have a prescription approved for unspecified credit to the NZDipBus must submit a proposal to TAM, setting out:

• the title of the proposed prescription and its level, which must align with the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications level descriptors
• the purpose of and rationale for the proposed prescription
• the aim, learning outcomes and key elements of the proposed prescription
• evidence of demand and support for the proposed prescription by the relevant industry sector and/or national user body or professional organisation, including evidence of support by the TEO's NZDipBus local advisory committee
• evidence of estimated total annual up-take by candidates for the proposed prescription
• evidence of appropriate academic approval(s) (e.g. Academic Board, Quality Assurance Body).

Proposed prescriptions should be presented in the format for NZDipBus 400-600 prescriptions.

The submission must be accompanied by a completed cover sheet. The cover sheet is available opposite.

When completed, the full submission should be returned to:

Tertiary Assessment and Moderation
PO Box 160
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
or by email to: tam@nzqa.govt.nz

Evaluation

TAM completes an initial evaluation of the proposed prescription before it is evaluated by the Academic Committee of the NACBS. This evaluation will consider whether the prescription:

• fits appropriately within the NZDipBus framework
• is consistent with and contributes to the NZDipBus graduate profile
• does not conflict or significantly overlap with existing prescriptions
• meets the requirements of (and is endorsed by) user group(s)
• is likely to be taken up by sufficient candidate numbers to justify inclusion
• has a user-provider partnership evident in its development.

TEOs wishing to submit a proposed prescription for approval should ensure their application addresses the evaluation criteria used by the Academic Committee of the NACBS.

Approval

Any approvals are for a limited period or number of delivery cycles – usually for one to three years (or delivery cycles, whichever comes sooner). TEOs will be notified of the approval period and any conditions relating to approval.

Prescriptions must be submitted for re-approval before the initial approval period lapses.

Page updated: 07 September 2009