Review of Civil Engineering qualification

FIELD ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Review of Civil Engineering qualification

National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881]

InfraTrain New Zealand (InfraTrain) has completed the review of the qualification above.

Replacement qualification

National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) [Ref: 1292]

Date new version published June 2007

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2012.

Summary of review and consultation process

In conjunction with the Civil Engineering Industry Group (Industry Group), InfraTrain had been reviewing the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] since July 2004. The plan had been to replace it with two national diplomas:

a) A national diploma in civil engineering (academic), and

b) A national diploma in civil engineering (applied).

The academic diploma would then be a prerequisite for the applied diploma and together they would provide:

· Evidence of theory knowledge (the academic diploma) that would support the early years of practice in becoming a civil engineering technician, and

· Evidence of successful practical application of theory (the applied diploma).

Collectively they would meet the requirements of The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) for recognition as an engineering technician, and therefore qualify to apply for associate membership (AIPENZ) of IPENZ.

With provider assent and input, the academic diploma was to have progressively superseded a recognised set of two year, level 6 local civil engineering diplomas provided by a 'consortium' of providers (the consortium diplomas).

However only limited progress was made towards the goal of registering the academic diploma, and the process was put on hold in March 2006 due to serious concerns about its mismatch with the consortium diplomas, the work needed to review existing civil engineering unit standards, and overlap issues.

In July 2006 it was decided to bypass the development of the academic diploma and use, instead, the consortium diplomas (or recognition of equivalent knowledge and skills) as the prerequisite for the applied diploma which had yet to be developed and which would be a replacement for the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881].

Development of a unified New Zealand (rather than a National) academic diploma to supersede the consortium diplomas is an option currently being given serious consideration.

From July 2006 InfraTrain, the Industry Group, IPENZ, and invited stakeholders worked and agreed on a proposal for a new national diploma which was to replace the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] and which, for those who wished to become associate members of IPENZ, would become the default mechanism for showing they are competent practising civil engineering technicians.

A key milestone was the registration of 120 credit standard 23410, Demonstrate competent practice as a civil engineering technician in January 2007. Given the size, primacy, purpose, and content of compulsory standard 23410 in the replacement diploma, it had been decided to make achievement of a consortium diploma (or recognition of equivalent knowledge and skills) a prerequisite for 23410.

The replacement diploma was endorsed by InfraTrain, the Industry Group, and IPENZ.

Main changes resulting from the review

National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881]

National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) [Ref: 1292]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

The replacement diploma, including standard 23410's prerequisite, covers a similar body of knowledge and skills as the replaced National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881], although it is expressed very differently in terms of outward content and structure. In relation to the replaced diploma, the replacement diploma enables:

· More holistic and less onerous methods of evidence collection and assessment

· Better accountability in the application of theory to well-defined problems and activities in a candidate's actual practice in a civil engineering discipline.

Transition

This qualification replaced the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881]. The last date for award of the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] is 31 December 2010.

The National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] replaced the New Zealand Certificate in Engineering with the options 1004 Technician Certificate Civil, and 0102 Civil (NZCE with options 1004 and 1012). The NZCE will continue to be awarded as laid out in the Advanced Vocational Awards Handbook until 31 December 2008. People transferring from the NZCE with options 1004 and 1012 to the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] had until 31 December 2006 to apply to InfraTrain New Zealand.

Regarding compulsory standard 23410 within this qualification, people who have fully or partially completed the replaced National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] are able, at no extra cost to themselves, to have their Record of Learning evaluated by InfraTrain New Zealand in terms of demonstrating equivalent knowledge and skills against the prerequisite for standard 23410.

InfraTrain New Zealand has contacted all those currently enrolled in the National Diploma in Civil Engineering [Ref: 0881] to negotiate individual transition plans. Any costs associated with the transfer to this replacement qualification will be borne by InfraTrain New Zealand.

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by the above arrangements, which have been designed for a smooth transition. However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to InfraTrain New Zealand at the address below.

InfraTrain New Zealand

PO Box 2759

WELLINGTON

Telephone 04 499 9144

Email askus@infratrain.co.nz

Key to Qualification Review Categories

Category A The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID	Changes are made to SSB name, contact details or purpose statement
	No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification
	No transition arrangements are required
Category B The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID	Changes are made to title, rules or components
	The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version
	The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence
	Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version
Category C A new (replacement) qualification is published with new NQF ID	Significant changes are made to the qualification in terms of components, structure, type or level
	The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification
	Transition arrangements are required
	Transition may be limited to phase-out dates
Category D Qualification will expire. There is no replacement qualification	Qualification is no longer required by industry
	The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set