Fields         Humanities, and Sciences

 

Review of Interpersonal Communications unit standard 9691 and Science – Core unit standard 8441

 

Subfield

Domain

ID

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Communications

9691

Science

Science - Core

8441

 

Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council has reinstated and revised the unit standards listed above.

 

Date new versions published                                                                                                   October 2025

 

Planned review date                                                                                               December 2027

 

Summary

 

Unit standards 9691 and 8441 were set to expire in December 2025.  However, they are needed in two programmes with learners currently enrolled.  The programmes lead to the New Zealand Certificate in Civil Engineering Laboratory (Level 4) with strands in Aggregate, Asphalt, Bitumen, Concrete, Field Investigations, and Soil [Ref: 2692], and the New Zealand Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management (Level 6) [Ref: 3180].

 

After discussions with the provider, industry groups, and NZQA in August 2025, Waihanga Ara Rau has reinstated and revised these unit standards to allow time for the review of the associated qualifications and the development of replacement skill standards.  Stakeholders supported these changes, and the unit standards are now fit for purpose.

 

Main changes

 

·     The review date was set at 31 December 2027 for both unit standards.

·     The standard setting body was changed from National Qualification Services to Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council.

 

Unit standard 9691

·       Title and outcome statements were amended to include ‘infrastructure asset management’.

·       Classification was changed from Humanities > Communication Skills > Interpersonal Communications to Engineering and Technology > Infrastructure Civil Engineering > Infrastructure Asset Management.

·       Definition of the term group-think was added in Guidance Information section.

·       The Last Date for Assessment for versions 7 and 8 was amended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2027.  The Last Date for Assessment for version 9 was amended from 31 December 2025 to N/A.

 

Unit standard 8441

·       Title and outcome statements were amended to include ‘civil engineering laboratory’.

·       Classification was changed from Sciences > Science > Science – Core to Engineering and Technology > Infrastructure Civil Engineering > Infrastructure Laboratory.

·       Australian/New Zealand Standard NZS ISO/IEC 17025 version was updated.

·       The Last Date for Assessment for versions 5 - 8 was amended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2027.

 

Impact on existing organisations with consent to assess

 

Current consent for

Consent extended to

Nature of consent

Classification or ID

Level

Nature of consent

Classification or ID

Level

Field

Sciences

5-7

Standard

8441

5

Subfield

Science

5-6

Standard

8441

5

Subfield

Communication Skills

5-8

Standard

9691

5

Domain

Interpersonal Communications

5, 6, 8

Standard

9691

5

 

Impact on Consent and Moderation Requirements

 

·     The Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) references were changed from 0113 to 0120.

 

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

 

All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Humanities > Communication Skills > Interpersonal Communications

Engineering and Technology > Infrastructure Civil Engineering > Infrastructure Asset Management

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

9691

Demonstrate knowledge of group processes

Demonstrate knowledge of group processes in infrastructure asset management

5

5

B

 

Sciences > Science > Science – Core

Engineering and Technology > Infrastructure Civil Engineering > Infrastructure Laboratory

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

8441

Describe laboratory quality systems

Describe quality systems in a civil engineering laboratory

5

4

B