eQuate

December 2022
- 8 Dec 2022

Changes to NZQA Rules

We are making changes to the NZQA rules to reflect amendments to the Education and Training Act 2020 which came into effect on 1 August 2022.

The changes aim to ensure the rules remain up to date and fit for purpose. They cover seven broad subjects, including micro-credentials, skill standards and New Zealand programmes.

We consulted on the proposed changes in September and October and received 114 submissions. The summary of submissions is available at Rules consultation, Summary of submissions 2022 (PDF, 910KB). There was strong interest in, and general support for, the proposed changes.

The rules have been approved by the NZQA Board, and are awaiting approval by the Minister. Once approved, we will let you know and will publish the updated rules on our website.

Transitioning from training schemes to micro-credentials

All approved training schemes are now being treated as micro-credentials following amendment of the Education and Training Act 2020.

This means that no new training schemes will be approved by NZQA. Existing training schemes will continue until micro-credential rules come into effect. When these rules apply, we will notify you to establish a timeframe for reviewing existing schemes to ensure they meet the requirements of the new rules.

This will likely require applications for either changes to, or new micro-credentials. In rare cases, some providers may need to develop new qualifications.

In the meantime, if you are not using your approval for any NZQA-approved training scheme, please notify us by 31 January 2023 so that it can be retired and not included in requests for review under the new rules.

Please e-mail your notification to micro-credentials@nzqa.govt.nz.

Support learner safety in and around the water

Summer is here! No doubt your learners will be heading out to discover and enjoy New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers. To support learner safety in and around the water, NZQA encourages you to discuss water safety with your learners.

There’s more than one way to raise awareness about staying safe in the water, but if you need any tips or resources for your learners, be sure to visit Water Safety New Zealand.

Support learners to be safe on the road

We encourage you to discuss road safety with your learners to make sure they are aware of the increased risks over the holiday period, and support them to be safe on the road.

Useful information links include: Driving in New Zealand and New Zealand Road Code Online.

While not compulsory, NZQA highly recommends you encourage your learners to have at least third-party insurance if they drive a vehicle.

Code of Pastoral Care

Proposal to combine international and domestic tertiary dispute resolution schemes

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is consulting on a proposal to combine the Domestic Tertiary Student Dispute Resolution Scheme and the International Student Dispute Resolution Scheme. Consultation is open now and will close on 19 December 2022.

The intention is to simplify the system for learners and providers, making it easier to access and navigate. MoE expects that the combined scheme will be in place for 2024. The ministry is keen to hear your views and the views of your learners and their whānau.

More information is available at: Combined Tertiary and International Dispute Resolution Scheme – Conversation space (education.govt.nz).

If you would like to provide a written submission or arrange a kōrero to discuss the proposals, please email: drs@education.govt.nz.

Code self-review attestation

Thank you to everyone who has already submitted a Code self-review attestation form.

• The Code attestation form for PTEs and wānanga was due 1 November 2022
• The Code attestation form for schools was due 1 December 2022

If you have not completed the attestation, please do so. If you have not received a link or are having difficulty completing the form, please contact the Code team, details below.

For resources to support your self-review process, see Self-review and attestation on the NZQA website.

Any questions about the Code?

Check the Code webpage for further information: Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice. If you have any questions, please email code.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz or call 0800 697 296 and ask for the Code team.

Assuring Consistency workshops for 2023  

To help providers prepare for consistency reviews, we will continue to offer free Assuring Consistency workshops in 2023, delivered via Zoom.

The three-hour workshops are particularly useful for organisations that have a Consistency Review coming up, or for new staff who will need to understand the process and evidence requirements for future involvement in Consistency Reviews.

The dates for 2023 workshops are now on the NZQA website. You can register here: 2023 Assuring Consistency Workshops.

NZQA processes

TEO issue of New Zealand qualification and micro-credentials achievement certificates

The new specifications for the format of certificates for qualifications and micro-credentials are now on the NZQA website. They can be found here.

If you need copies of the NZQF logos referred to, please contact our Client Services team at qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.

Lapse of programme accreditation or micro-credential approval

If a programme or micro-credential has not been delivered for 12 months or more, the provider’s programme accreditation or approval to provide the micro-credential will lapse.

You can apply for an extension to programme accreditation or micro-credential approval prior to the date of any such lapse by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.

New rules are being proposed for the approval and accreditation of micro-credentials. If your organisation already has approved micro-credentials, you will continue to hold approval for these. From 2023, existing micro-credentials will be aligned with the new rules.

Keeping your PTE registration status current

Where your organisation has accreditation for only one programme or approved micro-credential, and it is not delivered for 12 months of more, the organisation’s registration will lapse.

To avoid this, you can apply for an extension of time to stop your programme or micro-credential from lapsing. This also prevents your registration from 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

Change of ownership

Registered private training establishments planning a Sale of Shares, Transfer of Shares or Introduction of New Shareholders need to apply for NZQA approval pursuant to Rule 6.1.1(b) of the Private Training Establishment Registration Rules 2021.

Applications must be made no less than 30 working days before the proposed transaction completion or settlement date. An application form (DOCX, 58KB) outlines the information that NZQA requires. The application is submitted online.

For more information see Change of ownership.

Permanent delivery sites – what to apply for

If you are a Category 1 or 2 TEO intending to deliver a programme at levels 1-6 or a Level 7 Diploma, please complete the Permanent Delivery Site Approval Form (DOCX, 181KB).

If you are a Category 1 or 2 TEO intending to deliver a degree (levels 7-10) at a new delivery site, please submit a Type 2 change application to NZQA for that degree programme.

The NZQA website has information about approving delivery sites: see Approval of delivery sites.

If you have any questions about programme applications, please email to: approval_accreditation@nzqa.govt.nz.

Coming up this quarter

Forwarding information and queries

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

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