eQuate

August 2019
- 28 Aug 2019

Sector consultation

Further consultation on NZQF changes

The second round of consultation on proposed changes to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) is now open, focused around eight detailed proposals.

Information is available at Further consultation on the review of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

Consultation runs from Thursday 25 July to Monday 9 September.

Sector updates

Update on monitoring programme for NZCEL

We have begun monitoring all providers of the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4) (Academic) over 2019-2020. Each provider will have at least two weeks notice before their programme monitoring starts.

We are monitoring programmes leading to NZCEL because they provide a pathway to higher-level qualifications and involve large numbers of international students.

See the NZQA website for more information on the monitoring programme and how it relates to other quality assurance activities: Programme monitoring for the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4) (Academic).

QAD on the web

Guidelines recently published on the NZQA website

• Guidelines for the review of New Zealand qualifications at level 1-6 on the NZQF
• Guidelines for applying for registration as a private training establishment
• Guidelines for maintaining registration as a private training establishment

Web pages recently updated

• The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 (Amendment 2019)
• External evaluation and review
• Register of NZQA-approved micro-credentials
• Submitting results and awarding qualifications and micro-credentials
• Quicklinks to NZQF documents
• Diplomas, degrees and related qualifications monitoring
• Degree monitoring
• Self-monitoring

Good practice

Managing your student complaints well

Providers should make sure students can easily access information on making complaints, and that the process and forms are available on their website and in the student handbook. 

We have been getting calls from students saying they can't find information about making a formal complaint to their provider. Students may not feel they can ask staff directly for this information, especially if they have not decided if they will make a formal complaint.

A good time to make students aware of the complaints process is during orientation. Displaying the complaints process on student notice boards and in classrooms is especially helpful for newly enrolled students. 

NZQA rules about student complaints, as well as NZQA’s complaints processes about PTEs, are set out in Rule 5.1.4(e) of Private Training Establishment Registration Rules 2018.

If you have any questions or want to discuss this further, contact the Risk Management team at risk@nzqa.govt.nz.

Mātauranga Māori

Hui with the sector  

• Te Hono o Te Kahurangi and the Mātauranga Māori Advisory Group held their first meeting for 2019 in July.
• A workshop was held with the sector in Hamilton in July. The workshop covered strengthening the Te Hono o Te Kahurangi framework.

What does the Whare Ako framework cover?

Te Hono o Te Kahurangi Whare Ako framework can be used to approve qualifications and programmes, or to conduct an external evaluation and review or consistency review. If you want to know more, contact Rowena.Wirepa@nzqa.govt.nz.

Look out for a survey

We are keen to get your feedback on our services relating to Te Hono o Te Kahurangi and mātauranga Māori. Keep an eye out for a link to a customer satisfaction survey that will be emailed to you.

NZQA processes

Keeping your registration status current

Private training establishments (PTEs) must deliver at least one approved programme or training scheme within a 12-month period to avoid lapse of registration.

If you anticipate not providing a programme or training scheme for 12 months or more, you can apply for an extension of time to stop your registration lapsing.

Apply for this extension before the 12 months of non-usage ends by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.

For more information about PTE registration see:

• Guidelines for applying for registration as a private training establishment
• Guidelines for maintaining registration as a private training establishment

Updated consistency review self-assessment summary

There is an updated template for self-assessment when preparing for a consistency review. The new design fixes some problems with the original template.

The template guides self-assessment in:

• programme design and assessment evaluation
• graduate feedback and destination data evaluation
• evaluating feedback from stakeholders (including employers when relevant) and future users.

The template also requests supporting evidence to:

• identify the evidence used in the self-assessment
• explain how the evidence is used for self-assessment
• explain any gaps in the evidence
• explain the actions to address these gaps.  

The section about individual graduate profile outcomes has been removed as repetitive. If you wish, you can add these outcomes back into the self-assessment submission by including them in the programme design and assessment section. 

Find the new template at Preparing for and participating in a consistency review.

If you want more information, contact the Consistency team at consistency@nzqa.govt.nz.

Change of contact person for external evaluation and review

If you are due for an external evaluation and review and your contact person changes at any time, please notify the lead evaluator. This will ensure that we communicate with the right person.

To find the name and contact details for the lead evaluator, check the confirmation letter sent to your organisation four to six weeks before the evaluation.

Approvals and Accreditation TEO contacts

We have updated the NZQA contact person for each TEO. When you login to your NZQA provider page, please note this information so all your staff know who their NZQA contact person is.

While you’re logged-in, can you check your provider page to ensure that:

• your organisation contacts are current
• your list of approved permanent delivery sites is correct and shows the sites that are in use
• the degrees, programmes and/or training schemes listed are those that have been delivered by your organisation within the past 12 months.

If you wish to make any changes to this information, please call or email your Approval and Accreditation contact.

Awarding New Zealand qualifications and micro-credentials

Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) can award and issue New Zealand qualifications and micro-credentials listed on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). This flexibility is one of the outcomes of the Targeted Review of Qualifications.

The certificate must be signed by the chief executive or another senior staff member with the authority to confer the award on behalf of the TEO. Include the role/job title of the signer.

Note that our staff cannot sign the certificates.

See TEO issue of New Zealand qualification documents for further information.

Printing New Zealand qualification certificates

We encourage TEOs to award and issue New Zealand qualifications listed at levels 1-6 on the NZQF.

When you are designing New Zealand certificates and diplomas, refer to the guidance at: TEO issue of New Zealand qualification documents.

Cut-off dates for submitting programme applications for delivery in 2020

Application	Final date for submission to NZQA
New degree approval and accreditation; or Type 2 programme changes to existing degree-level programmes	Monday 12 August 2019
Sub-degree programme approval and/or accreditation applications; or Type 2 programme changes to approved programmes (levels 1-6 and level 7 diplomas)	Friday 11 October 2019

The cut-off dates are intended to allow enough time for providers to prepare and market for the incoming academic year, and provide an opportunity to plan and implement the new or changed programmes. You can apply at any time.

If you have any questions about programme applications, contact the Approvals and Accreditation team.

Coming up this quarter

Send us your…	Who?	By when?
Applications for new degree approval and accreditation or Type 2 changes to existing degrees to be delivered in 2020	All TEOs	12 August 2019
Annual Statutory Declaration Form Different forms for PTEs and TEIs	TEOs with a financial year-end of 31 March 2019	31 August 2019
Independent Assurance Practitioner's Review Report or Auditor's Report	PTEs with a financial year-end of 31 March 2019	31 August 2019
Audit of student fee protection arrangements	TEOs not exempt	31 August 2019
Quarterly student fee protection attestation Quarter ending 31 August 2019	TEOs not exempt Static trusts Bank bond trusts Not required for standard trusts	To trustee by 6 September 2019; to NZQA by 13 September 2019
Code of Practice self-review attestation	All signatories to the Code of Practice	1 October 2019
Applications for sub-degree programme approval or accreditation or Type 2 changes to existing sub-degree programmes (levels 1-6 and level 7 diplomas)	All TEOs	11 October 2019
Fit and proper person and conflict of interest declarations Submit a new or amended declaration: before any new governing member starts if an existing governing member has a new or changed conflict of interest if an existing governing member has a change in their fit and proper person status See Section 232 of the Education Act 1989 for the definition of governing member	PTEs only: applying for registration registered PTEs

Forwarding information and queries

Forward any compliance documents and queries to: qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.

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