May 2011

1. May 2011 The targeted review of qualifications

2. Tertiary Qualifications System Improvements Levels 1-6 ECONOMIC / FISCAL CONTEXT FUTURE SOCIETY / INDUSTRY NEEDS THE KEY ISSUES System not understood by learners / employers Too many qualifications and duplication: 3,455 certificates in 305 Fields (25% in only 10 Fields) Unclear which qualifications were available Pathways to further education and employment not clear to students / parents / employers Cost and time to market of qualifications Different quality assurance requirements for National and provider qualifications • IMPACTS • NZQF internationally relevant • 45% overall reduction in number of qualifications on NZQF by end 2012 • Skills, knowledge and competencies of graduates from each qualification are clear • Clear pathways to futurequalifications for learners / employers • Qualifications relevant and fit-for-purpose • Significant $ savings over time • Consistent approach to quality assurance PACKAGE OF CHANGES 1. Establish the NZQF 2. Use existing quality assured qualifications, enable inclusion of local components 3. Mandatory reviews of qualifications 4. Strengthen outcome statements 5. Pre-development assessment 6. Strengthen industry involvement in qualification development 7. Provide clear information on the availability of a qualification

3. The New Zealand Qualifications framework is designed to optimise • recognition of educational achievement and its contribution to • New Zealand’s economic, social and cultural success. • Specifically the NZQF will: • convey the skills, knowledge and attributes a graduate has gained through completing a qualification • require the development of integrated and coherent qualifications • enable and support the provision of high-quality education pathways • enhance confidence in the quality and international comparability of New Zealand qualifications • contribute to the strengthening of Māori as a people by enhancing and advancing mātauranga Māori • represent value for money, be sustainable and robust

4. Principles underpinning qualification design • Strategic and needs based - usefulness, relevance and value • Learners, employers, industry and communities • Acknowledges cultural and social aspirations where appropriate • Needs can be demonstrated • Practical focus on outcomes • Transparent • Increases portability • Enables comparisons • Flexibility • Achievement in ways most suited to learner and stakeholder needs. Separates qualification from programme of study and training. • Mutual trust and accountability • Communication and collaboration

6. Mechanisms to reduce duplication of qualifications 2 stage process to list a qualification on the NZQF pre-approval to develop qualification qualification approval and listing mandatory review of qualifications NZQA to develop the schedule and trigger reviews review plan submitted within 3 months of trigger report to NZQA with recommendations for changes to qualifications about 6 months from trigger implement the approved changes to qualifications in agreed timeline

7. Recommended approach for conducting a review • Establish Stakeholder Profile for review to ensure appropriate stakeholder involvement • Identify current roles/skill sets and match to existing qualifications (consider career pathways – from entry level onwards) • Work with stakeholders to identify sector’s needs and formulate ‘suite of qualifications’ that will meet those needs (including drafting strategic purpose statements and outcomes statements) • Determine the actions required for any new qualifications and each existing qualification – apply to NZQA for approval

8. In areas of duplication, there is an expectation that a new qualification will be developed to meet assessed needs, rather than an existing qualification being adapted

9. Capability for reviewing and developing qualifications • assigned NZQA SRM to each review – liaison, advice • workshops • clarify and set NZQA expectations • explain requirements • focus on strategic purpose and graduate profiles • assistance with facilitating initial stages of reviews where required • administrative support

10. What a new qualification looks like • Qualification details • Title, type, level, credits and NZSCE • Qualification developer • Review period • Award • Strategic Purpose Statement • Outcome Statement • Graduate profile • Education and employment pathways • Specification • ensures there is sufficient information for programme developers to meet the graduate profile • differentiates mandatory and optional conditions for qualification and/or individual outcomes

11. Specification • Specifications related to the qualification • arrangements for managing consistency of outcomes (quality assurance) • arrangements for credit transfer and RPL • prerequisites (where applicable) • minimum standard of achievement • conditions (mandatory and/or optional) • conditions relating to specific graduate outcomes • can be mandatory or optional • mandatory conditions must be justified

12. Fundamental shifts • New descriptors that determine qualification level and definitions of qualification type • Separation of qualification from programmes leading to it • Credit value determined at qualification – no longer the sum of individual assessment standards (where relevant) • Structured strategicpurpose and outcome statements • Clarification of role of assessment standards within a qualification • Programmes clearly mapping to qualification outcomes