FIELD                        SCIENCES

 

Review of Science qualifications

 

National Diplomain Science (Level 5) [Ref: 0234]

National Diploma in Science (Level 6) [Ref: 0235]

 

National Qualifications Services (NQS) has completed the review of the qualifications listed above that were registered in September 1998.

 

Date new versions published                        January 2005

 

A review of the qualifications was initiated in 2003 in conjunction with a review of a number of Science unit standards, following a meeting in 2002 of providers, industry representatives and other interested parties.  This meeting had identified the need to include a quality systems standard as a compulsory component in the qualifications.

 

A review panel comprising tertiary provider and industry members drawn from NQS's National Diploma in Science advisory network met in September 2003.  The panel considered the purpose and structure of the qualifications, and the credit levels in relation to the minimum requirements of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.  Although the purpose and overall structure were endorsed, a number of changes were recommended.

 

Consultation drafts were subsequently circulated to people and organisations that had expressed an interest in the review, and to those industry training organisations whose industries were most likely to employ qualification holders.  Endorsement of the final drafts came from the advisory network.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

The following changes to the structure and content of both qualifications were made.

 

·        The purpose statements were expanded to clarify focus, structure, and pathways.

·        Unit 8441, Describe laboratory quality systems, was included as a compulsory requirement.

·        A requirement to include one of four safety standards as part of the qualification was introduced as a Core Elective.

·        The title of the Information Processing Elective was amended to Information Technology Elective.

·        Unit 113, Produce information using advanced word processing functions, was removed from the Information Technology Elective.

 

Additional to the above changes, optional strands have been included in the Science Elective of the National Diploma in Science (Level 6) [Ref: 0235] to enable recognition of specialisation.  The title has been changed accordingly to the National Diploma in Science (Level 6) with optional strands in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology/Biochemistry [Ref: 0235].

 

Transition

 

People currently working towards version 5 of either qualification may either complete the requirements for that version or transfer their results to version 6.  The final date for award of version 5 is 31 December 2007.  Final date for entry to programmes based on version 5 of either qualification is 31 December 2004, but providers are encouraged to offer programmes based on the new requirements from January 2005.

 

These qualifications contain a standard that replaces an earlier standard.  For the purposes of the qualifications, people who have gained credit for the expiring standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standard.

 

Expiring Standard	Replacement Standard
8468	20885

 

New credit transfer and transition arrangements for people with an incomplete New Zealand Certificate in Science were approved in 2003, and version 5 of the qualifications, published in February 2004, included these arrangements.  Details of the arrangements, and the application form, can still be found at the end of the published version 6 qualification documents.