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April 2012

The targeted review of qualifications – progress

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Qualifications system – key issues

• System not understood by learners / employers– Local / provider qualifications, National Qualifications

• Too many qualifications and duplication– Over 6000 in total, United Kingdom, Finland – eg 3,455 certificates in 305 Fields (25% in only 10 Fields)– No test of relevance

• Unclear which qualifications were available– Many were inactive or expired but still listed

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• Pathways to further education and employment not clear to students / parents / employers

– Education, employment, skills/knowledge

• Cost and time to market of qualifications– Average $70,000 per qualification

• Different quality assurance requirements for National and provider qualifications

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Targeted review package of changes

• Establish the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and provide clear information on the availability of a qualification

• Review qualification design, strengthen outcome statements and industry involvement

• Reduce the number of qualifications on the NZQF through mandatory reviews and - pre-development assessment

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Principles underpinning qualification design

• Based on needs

• Clear graduate, education and employment outcomes

• Flexibility – separate qualification from programmes

• Collaborative development

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New

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s F

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QUALIFICATION

STUDY PROGRAMME(Components &

standards)

STUDY PROGRAMME

(Component based)

TRAININGPROGRAMME(Unit standards)

PROVIDERSFull time study (may

include work experience)

ITO(s)Training & assessment

Arranged in the Workplace

ITO(s)Training & assessment

arranged – workplace and provider (e.g. block

course, distance learning)

Del

iver

y /

Arr

ang

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tsP

rog

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mes

of

trai

nin

g a

nd

stu

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Relationship between qualification and programme

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What a new qualification looks like

• Qualification details e.g. Title, type, level, credits and NZSCEd etc

• Strategic Purpose Statement

• Outcome Statement e.g. 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

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APPLICATION TO DEVELOP

EvaluationAPPLICATION FOR

APPROVAL Evaluation

QUALIFICATION LISTING

Qualification approved

Application approved

Application not approved

Qualification not approved

QUALIFICATION REVIEW

Lifecycle of a qualification

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Conducting a review

• Gather information to determine sector needs and skills profiles – workforce development approach

• Establish Stakeholder Profile

• Determine governance and working structures

• Prepare a revised map or ‘suite of qualifications’ – look for commonalities– pathways

• Prepare new qualifications for pre-approval– Sign-off from current qualification owners

• Report to NZQA

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Mandatory review progress

• 1640 qualifications to be reviewed this year– 1645 qualifications in 21 sectors now underway or complete

• Progress so far– 2 approved Diplomas in Aviation listed (from 26)– 7 ESOL qualifications approved for development (from 274)– 8 cranes qualifications for pre-approval (from 6)– 3 refrigeration and air conditioning qualifications for pre-

approval (from 6)– 6 baking qualifications for pre-approval (from 7)– 4 cookery qualifications for pre-approval (from 74)

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Challenges in the review process

• Needs – evidence based, step back, take a fresh look

• Planning – 6 month timeline

• Governance

• Consultation

• Communication and information

• Use the guidelines

• Competing needs – funding, immigration, TEO business

Conduct the review

Preparation– prior to trigger

2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

DRAFT outline of mandatory review key deliverables and timeline

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 5Month 4Month Month Month 6

Consultation

Working group activity

Governance decisions

Governance group

Trigger

1

Submit applications

Gather and analyse information: - current qualification usage- confirm qualifications included in

review- skills profiles where available- on needs identification /

confirmation- feedback on current qualifications

Plan due to NZQA

Develop initial stakeholder profile

Plan and invite stakeholders to initial meeting(s)

Consider governance and working group structures Prepare materials for initial meeting- Qualifications list- About TRoQ- Agenda

Prepare industry / sector needs analysis

Confirm stakeholder profile

Sign-off plan

Prepare review plan

Review and approve skills map and new suite of qualifications for consultation

Sign-off applications and report

Map skills to qualifications

Prepare new suite of qualifications

Develop draft strategic purpose and outcome statements

Determine facilitator / lead

Stakeholder workshop(s) and consultation on new qualifications

Qualification owners sign-off

Revise strategic purpose and outcome statements

Sign-off qualifications

Prepare applications for pre-approval and review report

Stakeholder attestations

Stakeholder group(s)

Working group(s)

Qualification owners

Stakeholder workshop(s)

Progress on consultation

Establish relationships

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NZQA assistance

• Guidelines

• Workshops

• Critical friend, facilitation

• SRMs

• Conversation, information and advice

• Disseminating learning - practice notes

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Eve McMahonProgramme Manager

Targeted Review of QualificationsQuality Assurance Division

NZQA

eve.mcmahon@nzqa.govt.nz

www.nzqa.govt.nzQuestions to: nzqfquestions@nzqa.govt.nz

Tertiary Qualifications System Improvements Levels 1-6

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

PACKAGE OF CHANGES

1. Establish the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and provide clear information on the availability of a qualification

2. Review qualification design,

strengthen outcome statements and industry involvement

3. Reduce the number of qualifications on the NZQF through mandatory reviews and - pre-development assessment

FUTURE SOCIETY / INDUSTRY NEEDS

ECONOMIC / FISCAL CONTEXT

IMPACTS

NZQF internationally relevant

1200 – 1300 qualifications on NZQF by end 2014 (2,530 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