NZDipBus (Level 6) - Version two Qs and As

Question

Answer

Can TEOs offer version two (400-600) prescriptions as part of the version one qualification?

Yes, provided (if you are a PTE) your original course approval and accreditation included version one of those prescriptions. The last date for award of version one of the qualification is 2010. Refer transition arrangements for version two #iii.

If a TEO wants to offer an elective prescription in their NZDipBus programme that hasn't yet been reviewed, can they continue to offer the relevant version one (200) prescription, and can successful students use those credits towards version two of the qualification?

Yes, provided the level of the reviewed prescription stays the same as the version one (200) prescription level and the version one (200) credits were not awarded a 'P' result.

Transition arrangements #v and #vi apply.

Will TEOs need to apply for re-accreditation before offering version two of the qualification?

No.

If you are an ITP, you can automatically offer any of the version two (400-600) prescriptions, subject to appropriate resources and staffing.

If you are a PTE, you can offer any version prescription that was approved (as version one) as part of your original course approval and accreditation. However, if you wish to offer version two of a prescription and version one of that prescription was not part of your original approved course, you will need to make a Category C course change application to Course Approvals and Accreditation, NZQA.

The 100-200 series of prescriptions include contact hours; prescriptions in the 400-600 series do not. Can TEOs who are accredited for delivering version one of NZDipBus change the contact hours when they move to delivering 400-600 prescriptions?

Not automatically.

If you are an ITP, you would need to seek the appropriate academic approval, as required by your organisation's quality management systems.

If you are a PTE, you can approve minor changes through your internal approval processes. For significant changes, you will need to make a Category C course change application to Course Approvals and Accreditation, NZQA.

Entry requirements are mandatory for version two of the qualification whereas they were recommended for version one. Can TEOs use their discretion for applicants who do not meet all the entry requirements?

TEOs usually have discretionary entry regulations and procedures that can be used for applicants who do not meet all entry requirements for particular qualifications but are deemed (on an individual basis) to be capable of coping with the required course work.

TEOs must ensure (through their discretionary entry procedures) that any NZDipBus students who enrol without the specified literacy, numeracy and other credits and (for international students) the required IELTS/TOEFL score are appropriately equipped to cope with the level of work from the beginning of their programme. This may be through demonstration of equivalent knowledge or skills, or through (for example) bridging courses and/or on-going support offered by the TEO.

TEOs should also ensure that instances of discretionary entry are clearly documented so they are available for audit purposes.

If TEOs may (through applying discretionary entry procedures) enrol international students who have a lower IELTS or TOEFL score (eg 5.5 IELTS), can they use the lower score in promotional material?

No. Discretionary entry procedures are applied on a case-by-case basis. All promotional material for a NZDipBus programme must state the TEO's mandatory entry requirements, which must be at least the entry requirements stated in the NZDipBus regulations.

It is good practice for TEOs to promote the availability of discretionary entry pathways to potential applicants for any programme.

Do international students under 20 need the literacy and numeracy credits (or equivalent) for entry as well as an IELTS score of 6.0?

Yes.

Do the mandatory NZDipBus entry requirements apply for local TEO qualifications that include NZDipBus prescriptions?

The NZDipBus entry requirements apply to NZDipBus programmes. TEOs apply their own entry requirements for local programmes/qualifications. If NZDipBus prescriptions included in local qualifications have recommended prerequisites, these should be noted by TEOs.

Are version one (100-200) credits that are transferred to version two of the NZDipBus qualification included in, or additional to, the maximum credits achievable by credit transfer?

Credit transfer rules and regulations for the NZDipBus, which can be found in the booklet Guidelines on Credit Transfer and Unspecified Credit 2006 (opposite), apply only to credit recognition from other courses and programmes.

Recognition of version one (100-200) NZDipBus credits in version two of the qualification is covered by the transition arrangements for version two rather than by credit transfer regulations.

Page updated: 07 July 2009