- Home
- Qualifications and standards
- NCEA
- Māori and Pasifika
-
Providers and partners
- About education organisations
- NZQA's quality assurance system for tertiary education organisations
- Guidelines and forms
- Consistency of graduate outcomes
- Approval, accreditation and registration
- Monitoring and Assessment
- Self-assessment
- External evaluation and review
- Assessment and moderation of standards
- Submitting results and awarding qualifications and micro-credentials
- Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice
- Offshore use of qualifications and programmes
- Reform of Vocational Education
- International Education planning
- international
- About us
Closures of an NZQA-approved course
The closure of a programme or training scheme by a private training establishment (PTE) can occur for a variety of reasons and is referred to as a 'closure event'.
A course closure event means:
(a) the provider is no longer delivering or capable of delivering the programme or training scheme in which students are enrolled
(b) the PTE ceases to be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016
(c) the PTE is closed following regulatory action by NZQA
(d) the PTE becomes insolvent
(e) the PTE ceases to operate or loses its body corporate status
(f) NZQA cancels the PTE’s registration (under section 350 of the Education and Training Act 2020)
(g) NZQA withdraws the PTE’s programme approval or accreditation (sections 441 and 439 of the Education and Training Act 2020)
(h) NZQA withdraws the PTE’s training scheme approval (section 448 of the Education and Training Act 2020) or
(i) NZQA withdraws the PTE’s consent to assess against standards (under section 449 of the Education and Training Act 2020).
NZQA will only take action mentioned in (f)-(i) above where it has serious concerns.
NZQA’s processes allow for a PTE in this position to provide feedback and information to NZQA before NZQA decides whether to take the action that is being considered.
PTE's responsibilities
When a programme or training scheme closes for any reason, PTEs must ensure that:
- students are kept well informed and understand the options that are available to them
- students who choose to transfer to an alternative education organisation will continue their tuition with minimal disruption
- students who discontinue tuition receive the appropriate refund of fees without undue delays. See Withdrawals and refunds
- risk to student welfare, including interruption of accommodation, is minimised
- disruption to other organisations involved is minimised
- New Zealand's reputation as a quality education destination is protected
- all relevant and reasonable costs relating to students associated with the cessation of the course are met.
These relevant and reasonable costs include:
- any assessments of students or recognition of prior learning or credit transfer that may be required
- any student education or training needed due to poor lack of teaching provision, and
- any transfer of students to courses at other education providers.
Student fee protection
Registered PTEs must have adequate protection of student fees in the event of insolvency, cancellation of registration by NZQA and/or loss of accreditation or approval.
For more information, see Student fee protection.
NZQA's role in programme closure
No two closure events are the same. The actions required and how they are carried out, will vary with each closure.
In most cases, NZQA takes on a coordinating role, to ensure the interests of all parties are represented.
NZQA will liaise with the relevant stakeholders (including affected students) when managing a closure to ensure everyone is aware of the situation and the necessary next steps.
Further information
If you have any questions or need further information, email risk@nzqa.govt.nz.