NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 51

B. S. ARMSTRONG, Chief Executive, New Zealand Fire Service.
(Ref. OPS 4/1/6A03, 6A07, 6A21, 6A22, 6A25 and OPS 4/1/6A27)

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New Zealand Qualifications Authority

Education Act 1989

Registration of Unit Standards and Qualifications

The following criteria for registration with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority of unit standards and national qualifications are published in accordance with section 253 (3) of the Education Act 1989 and its amendments.

Registration of Unit Standards

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will employ the following criteria for registration of unit standards:

1. Endorsement—The units are endorsed by the relevant national standards body or bodies.

2. Format—The unit follows the expected format and contains all the relevant information.

3. Duplication—The title and elements of this unit make it sufficiently distinct from currently registered units.

4. Level and Credit Rating—The proposed level and credit rating are justified.

5. Merit Criteria—Criteria for the award of merit are valid and are stated clearly and unambiguously.

6. Technical Quality—The elements and performance criteria are measurable, there is a relationship between the various unit components, and they are free from gender and cultural bias.

7. Moderation—There are efficient, resource effective and accessible arrangements for ensuring the consistency of assessment with the required standards.

8. Accreditation—There is an efficient, resource-effective and accessible system for evaluating the capacity of providers to deliver unit standards.

9. Entry Information—Entry requirements include no unreasonable barriers.

10. Final Date for Comment—There is a date by which comments on the unit standards shall be received. Such comments will be taken into account when the unit standard is reviewed.

11. Revision—To ensure that the unit remains relevant, there is a revision date after which the unit shall be subject to formal review and re-registration.

Refer also to the current edition of the Qualifications Authority’s publication, Guidelines, Criteria and Regulations for the Registration of Units and Qualifications for National Certificates and National Diplomas.

Registration of Qualifications

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will employ the following criteria for registration of qualifications:

1. Endorsement—The qualification is endorsed by the relevant national standards body or bodies.

2. Consultation—Appropriate consultation has taken place.

3. Unit Combination and Academic Regulations—The combination of registered units and the academic regulations are consistent with the requirements and principles of the National Qualifications Framework, particularly in allowing flexibility, appropriate choice and pathways for learners.

(These requirements and principles are set out in the publication Developing the National Qualifications Framework, a Report to the Board, 24 September 1991, page 5.)

4. Duplication—The qualification is different in composition and purpose from any already registered.

5. Title, Level and Credit Total—The proposed title, level and credit total conform to relevant Qualifications Authority regulations.

6. Certification—The certification proposals conform to the relevant Qualifications Authority regulations.

7. Revision Date—To ensure that the qualification remains relevant, there is a revision date after which the qualification shall be subject to formal review and re-registration.

Refer also to the current edition of the Qualifications Authority’s publication, Guidelines, Criteria and Regulations for the Registration of Units and Qualifications for National Certificates and National Diplomas.

Accreditation of Providers to Offer Registered Qualifications

The following criteria for accreditation of education and training providers to offer unit standards for the National Certificate and National Diploma are published in accordance with section 253 (3) of the Education Act 1989 and its amendments.

The Qualifications Authority or its delegated accrediting agent (in respect of providers other than universities) requires sufficient information to enable judgements to be made on the capacity of a provider or consortium of providers to deliver the standards contained in the unit or units within the scope of the accreditation.

Quality Management System

For the scope of the accreditation there will need to be a coherent quality management system of policies and procedures, with mechanisms for evaluation. The system will cover the following areas and will meet the specified criteria.

1. The Development and Evaluation of Teaching Programmes—There is a system for developing coherent teaching programmes and for their evaluation, which should include evaluation by learners or consumers.

2. Financial, Administrative and Physical Resources—Adequate and appropriate financial and administrative resources will be maintained to enable all necessary activities to be carried out.

   Adequate, appropriate and accessible physical resources will be available for supporting students to meet the required standards.

3. Staff Selection, Appraisal and Development—A teaching staff with the necessary knowledge and skills will be maintained through staff selection, appraisal and development.

4. Student Entry—There is a system for establishing and clearly publicising student entry requirements that include no unreasonable barriers.

5. Student Guidance and Support Systems—Students have adequate access to appropriate guidance and support systems.

6. Off-Site Practical or Work-Based Components—There are arrangements for ensuring that any off-site practical or work-based components are fully integrated into the relevant programmes.

7. Assessment—There is a system for ensuring that assessment is fair, valid and consistent.

8. Reporting—There is a system for providing students with fair and regular feedback on progress and fair reporting on final achievements, with an associated appeals procedure.