Extending temporary approval for online delivery

Online delivery in New Zealand

NZQA is granting an automatic extension to 31 December 2020 for programmes and training schemes delivered online in New Zealand, unless one or more of the following applies:

• the programme or training scheme includes practical components or placements;
• the provider intends to deliver solely online and not resume face-to-face delivery.

In these situations, additional information is required before the temporary approval can be extended.

International students enrolling in offshore programmes and/or training schemes are not required to have a valid visa.  However, a valid visa is required to study in New Zealand.

Online delivery where practical components and placements are required

Where the programme or training scheme includes practical components or placements, the TEO must inform NZQA and provide evidence of how it will arrange and manage suitable opportunities for its students to obtain the relevant experience and demonstrate they have achieved the relevant learning outcomes.

100% online with no face-to-face delivery

If a TEO decides not to resume face-to-face delivery, and instead undertakes delivery solely online, then it must inform NZQA and provide evidence of how it will manage educational quality on an ongoing basis.

Please send the additional information to covid19.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz before 30 June 2020. Where the change to deliver solely online is intended to be permanent (i.e. beyond 31 December 2020), please apply for a training scheme change or a type 2 programme change.

Offshore online delivery

Extending temporary approval for online delivery of programmes to existing international students offshore

Some TEOs were granted temporary approval for offshore online delivery of programmes to their existing international students. We expect that most of these TEOs will now be resuming face-to-face or blended delivery for domestic students, but may need to continue online delivery for international students still offshore. This could mean having to use two delivery methods for the one programme concurrently.

In this situation, a TEO may request an extension to allow the current cohort of international students to complete their programme. The extension may be granted for the period of the students’ enrolment. The request must include evidence of how the TEO will manage the online offshore delivery alongside the domestic face-to-face or blended delivery. It must also include evidence that international students have paid for the duration of their enrolment.

Extending temporary approval for online delivery of training schemes to existing and new international students offshore

Some TEOs were granted temporary approval for offshore online delivery of training schemes. TEOs wanting to continue with offshore online delivery of training schemes to existing or new international students must notify NZQA before 30 June 2020.

If you require an extension, please email covid19.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz before 30 June 2020 with your request.

Validating educational quality of programmes and training schemes with temporary approval

Please note that NZQA will be validating the educational quality of programmes and training schemes that have been granted extensions to deliver online offshore beyond 30 June 2020:

• Training scheme validation (PDF, 111KB)
• Programme validation (PDF, 112KB)

NZQA will contact TEOs who have been granted extensions, to confirm a submission date for information relating to the validation process.

Application for permanent offshore programme delivery

As part of a TEO’s recovery planning, it may be looking for opportunities to deliver to new international students offshore. Information and guidance on making an application for permanent offshore delivery is available on the NZQA website.

If you would like further information, please email NZQA at covid19.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz