APQN Members
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Membership Type: Full
Email: elizabeth.templeton@nzqa.govt.nz
Year in which Organisation/Agency commenced operations: 1990
Countries/regions/states of operation: New Zealand Nuie Cook Islands
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Title: Dr
First Name: Karen
Surname: Poutasi
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +64 4 802 3000
Fax: +64 4 802 3112
Email Id: karen.poutasi@nzqa.govt.nz
Nominated Contact Person (if different from CEO)
Title: Ms
First Name: Kathy
Surname: MacLaren
Job Title: Manager, Service Delivery
Phone: +64 4 463 4218
Fax: +64 4 382 6895
Email Id: elizabeth.templeton@nzqa.govt.nz
Alternative Email Id: grant.klinkum@nzqa.govt.nz
Organisation Details
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Address: Street address: Level 13 125 The Terrace Wellington New Zealand Postal address: PO Box 160 Wellington New Zealand
New Zealand
Website: http://nzqa.govt.nz
Additional Contacts
Criteria Requirements for Full Member
1 Criterion: Nature of the operations of the agency:
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary
education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary
education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Description: The NZQA is responsible for reviews of private training establishments, government training establishments, and wananga. It has delegated responsibility for the Colleges of Education, and the Polytechnics to seperate quality assurance agencies.
The main piece of legislation governing NZQA is the Education Act (1989). This can be accessed at www.legislation.govt.nz. The NZQA's key functions are outlined in section 253 of the Education Act.
The main piece of legislation governing NZQA is the Education Act (1989). This can be accessed at www.legislation.govt.nz. The NZQA's key functions are outlined in section 253 of the Education Act.
2 Criterion: Mission statement and objectives:
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Description: The NZQA's Statement of Intent, Strategic Plan, and Annual report can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about/strategic/index.html
The 2003-2005 Strategic Plan includes a mission: To enhance national success through assuring and recognising individual and organisational competency and capability.
The 2003-2005 Strategic Plan includes a mission: To enhance national success through assuring and recognising individual and organisational competency and capability.
3 Criterion: Agency staff, Numbers, Profile, Roles:
Measure: The profile of the staff is consistent with the Mission Statement
Measure: The profile of the staff is consistent with the Mission Statement
Description: The NZQA employs approximately 270 permanent staff. A large number of short-term contractors are also employed to assist with the running of the national examinations. The business units of the NZQA include:
- Policy, International & Research
- Strategic Development
- Corporate Services
- Secondary Education
- Tertiary Education
- Qualifications Services
- Approvals, Accreditation, & Audit
- Provider Development & Support
- Board Services & Audit
- Policy, International & Research
- Strategic Development
- Corporate Services
- Secondary Education
- Tertiary Education
- Qualifications Services
- Approvals, Accreditation, & Audit
- Provider Development & Support
- Board Services & Audit
4 Criterion: Profile of reviewers:
Measure: The profile of the reviewers is consistent with the Mission Statement
Measure: The profile of the reviewers is consistent with the Mission Statement
Description: General information about the Approvals, Accreditation and Audit group can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/index.html
Documents, including the Quality Assurance Standards and the Self Evaluation Handbook can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/resources.html
Documents, including the Quality Assurance Standards and the Self Evaluation Handbook can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/resources.html
5 Criterion: Independence:
Measure: The judgements and recommendations of the agency’s reports cannot be changed by third parties
Measure: The judgements and recommendations of the agency’s reports cannot be changed by third parties
Description: The NZQA is a crown agency, part of the New Zealand government. It is governed by a Board of 8 to 10 members selected by the responsible Minister. The Board is essentially an independent body, with two major exceptions:
1. The Crown Entities Act 2004 allows the responsible Minister to direct NZQA give effect to a government policy that relates to NZQA's functions and objectives.
2. The Education Act 1989 requires NZQA not to establish any policy in relation to the systems of evaluation, assessment, or certification of the ability or achievement of students at secondary schools unless the responsible Minister has approved that policy in writing.
In practice, these requirements do not effect the independence of the judgements and recommendations of NZQA's reports.
1. The Crown Entities Act 2004 allows the responsible Minister to direct NZQA give effect to a government policy that relates to NZQA's functions and objectives.
2. The Education Act 1989 requires NZQA not to establish any policy in relation to the systems of evaluation, assessment, or certification of the ability or achievement of students at secondary schools unless the responsible Minister has approved that policy in writing.
In practice, these requirements do not effect the independence of the judgements and recommendations of NZQA's reports.
6 Criterion: Resources:
Measure: The agency has sufficient resources to run its operations in accordance with its mission statement and objectives
Measure: The agency has sufficient resources to run its operations in accordance with its mission statement and objectives
Description: The NZQA is funded through a mixture of government purchase, and cost-recovery (e.g. fees charged for services). A summary of the financial performance of the NZQA can be found in the NZQA Annual Report at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/publications/pdf/annualrept-04.pdf
In the year ending 30 June 2004, the NZQA had a $14.3 million surplus.
In the year ending 30 June 2004, the NZQA had a $14.3 million surplus.
7 Criterion: External quality assurance criteria and processes:
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Description: The Approvals, Accredittation and Audit unit (AAA) within NZQA is responsible for providing an external check of the quality of the courses and qualifications in wānanga, industry and the private and government sector, as well as all degrees outside universities. AAA also assures the quality of qualifications offered in secondary schools. More information about AAA can be found at:
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/index.html
A self-evaluation guide book for education providers can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/docs/sew.pdf
NZQA is in the process of consulting providers on the public publication of audit reports.
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/index.html
A self-evaluation guide book for education providers can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/docs/sew.pdf
NZQA is in the process of consulting providers on the public publication of audit reports.
8 Criterion: Quality assurance:
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Description: NZQA has a formal complaints process for any decision relating to approvals, accreditation and audit. Information about this can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-providers/aaa/appeals/index.html
NZQA also handles student complaints about the education providers it is responsible for. More information about this process can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-learners/rights/complaints.html
The Ombudsmens Office can investigate complaints received from members of the public who feel they have been treated unfairly by some act, omission, decision or recommendation of a central or local government organisation. See: http://www.ombudsmen.govt.nz/
The State Services Commission can review NZQA when directed to by the government. The most recent such publication, the Education Sector Review, can be found at: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/upload/downloadable_files/ed-sector-review-0605.pdf
The Board Services and Audit unit at NZQA plays a quality assurance role, including the audit of bodies with delegated quality assurance functions and powers.
NZQA also handles student complaints about the education providers it is responsible for. More information about this process can be found at: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-learners/rights/complaints.html
The Ombudsmens Office can investigate complaints received from members of the public who feel they have been treated unfairly by some act, omission, decision or recommendation of a central or local government organisation. See: http://www.ombudsmen.govt.nz/
The State Services Commission can review NZQA when directed to by the government. The most recent such publication, the Education Sector Review, can be found at: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/upload/downloadable_files/ed-sector-review-0605.pdf
The Board Services and Audit unit at NZQA plays a quality assurance role, including the audit of bodies with delegated quality assurance functions and powers.
Criteria Requirements for Institutional Member
Institutional Member Criteria:
Measure: Institutional Members are institutions of higher education in the region that are in good standing with the relevant quality assurance agency if one exists.
Measure: Institutional Members are institutions of higher education in the region that are in good standing with the relevant quality assurance agency if one exists.
Criteria Requirements for Associate Member
Associate Member Criteria:
Measure:Associate Members are organisations with a major interest and active involvement in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, but without the responsibility for assuring the quality of institutions, education programs, or external quality assurance agencies
Measure:Associate Members are organisations with a major interest and active involvement in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, but without the responsibility for assuring the quality of institutions, education programs, or external quality assurance agencies
Criteria Requirements for Intermediate Member
1 Criterion: Nature of the operations of the agency:
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
2 Criterion: Mission statement and objectives:
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
3 Criterion: :
Proof of the organisation’s good standing with the local QA agency
Proof of the organisation’s good standing with the local QA agency
Criteria Requirements for Observer
Criterion For Observers:
Measure: APQN accepts as Observers organisations outside the Asia-Pacific region, including: external quality assurance agencies; institutions with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education; other regional networks that have major interests in and strong links with the region
Measure: APQN accepts as Observers organisations outside the Asia-Pacific region, including: external quality assurance agencies; institutions with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education; other regional networks that have major interests in and strong links with the region
Documentation and Fees
Additional Information: No additional information is required for my application
Upon approval of my application I agree to pay:
- $500 (Initial Joining Fee: Full Member, Intermediate Member, Associate Member)
- $300 Member Fee: Full Member, Intermediate Member (if not INQAAHE Member)
I will be applying for support for: None
Documents Submitted
Located in: APQN Members
