Student Achievement Component

• • Eligibility
  • Quality assurance requirements
  • Approved qualifications
  • New or changed qualifications
  • Approving courses
  • TEI certificates of proficiency
  • Post-entry health education
  • Pre-service teacher education
  • TEC Qualifications Register
  • Qualification codes
  • SAC funding approval process - TEIs
  • SAC funding approval process - PTEs and REAPS

New or changed qualifications

A new or significantly changed qualification must have the relevant Quality Assurance Body (QAB) approval before:

• the qualification is eligible for SAC[1] funding
• the qualification can be approved for SAC funding
• learners enrolling in the qualification can access student allowances or the Student Loan Scheme.

NZQA[2] has identified changes that require evaluation by the relevant QAB. The relevant QAB will have its own requirements regarding changes to qualifications, with which TEOs[3] must also comply. The following are examples:

• Change of title, level or credits
• Other changes to Register details, such as the addition of new majors or changes to core or compulsory content.

New or significantly changed qualifications

A new or significantly changed qualification must have the relevant QAB and TEC approval to gain or retain funding eligibility.

Significant changes to a qualification as in Rule SAC003[4] include changes to the EFTS[5] or credit value, length or level of a qualification.

Change in qualification delivery site or delivery mode as in Rule SAC004[6] may also affect our approval of the qualification.

We will consider extensions to the duration of qualifications and may decide to fund all or part of the increased length.

The decision to fund all or part of the increased length of a qualification will be related to the minimum time needed to demonstrate achievement of the specified competencies at an acceptable level.

Reasons to extend the length of a qualification could include:

• greater complexity of a subject matter
• use of more sophisticated technologies
• a need for more highly developed methodologies
• work that separates professional courses previously covered
• a foundation year for learners who require such assistance before they can undertake their chosen programme of study
• changes to the time frame to complete the qualification as in Rule SAC004[7].

Minor changes

Minor changes to qualifications are changes to a qualification that do not change the size, level, core content or EFTS value of the qualification. These include:

• changes to the title that do not change the level or subject area of the qualification.  Note: The NZQA considers a change to the title as significant and TEOs must seek NZQA approval for such change. However, this does not affect eligibility for funding
• changes to the teaching time (gross weeks) that do not change the EFTS value of the qualification
• changes to course EFTS factors that do not change the EFTS value of the qualification.

See the NZQA website for information on qualifications.

Rule SAC021[8] specifies the funding approval process for minor changes to qualifications.

• [1]

  Student Achievement Component fund (SAC)

• [2]

  New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)

• [3]

  Tertiary education organisation (TEO)

• [4]

  Rule SAC003: Changes - significant

  Significant changes to a qualification include changes to the:

  • Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) value of a qualification, which may result from a change in the credit value, or a change in the number of teaching weeks or learning hours. However, if the change in EFTS value is the result of revision of a unit standard, the tertiary education organisation (TEO) does not require re-approval from an external quality assurance body
  • total credits in the qualification:
    • When a TEO adds additional credits to a national qualification, an increase of less than 5% over the credit value (maximum number of credits in the case of a variable credit qualification) is acceptable. Additional credits will not raise the EFTS value of a national qualification
    • An increase of more than 5% over the maximum number of credits to a national qualification changes it to a local qualification. If this occurs, TEOs require full approval and accreditation
    • Any reduction in the number of credits in a national qualification changes it to a local qualification. If this occurs, TEOs require full approval for the qualification
  • length of a qualification or the timeframe to complete a qualification (acceleration or compression) - see Rule SAC004
  • level of the qualification on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications (the Register).

   

  Note:  All significant changes to qualifications require funding approval from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) if continued funding is sought.

  The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has identified changes that require evaluation by the relevant quality assurance body (QAB).

  The relevant QAB will have its own requirements regarding changes to qualifications, which TEOs must also comply with. The following are examples:

  • Change of title, level or credits
  • Other changes to Register details, such as the addition of new majors or changes to core or compulsory content.
• [5]

  Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS)

• [6]

  Rule SAC004: Changes - delivery site or mode

  A change of delivery site or delivery mode may affect the Tertiary Education Commission's (TEC’s) approval of the qualification:

  • Private training establishments and wānanga must obtain approval from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to deliver all qualifications through additional delivery sites or delivery modes, notify the TEC of the new site or mode and provide evidence of NZQA approval.
  • Institutes of technology and polytechnics must obtain quality assurance body approval for any new site or delivery mode for the delivery of degrees and provide evidence of such approval.
  • Tertiary education organisations must be accredited to deliver qualifications via the delivery mode(s) employed.
• [7]

  Rule SAC004: Changes - delivery site or mode

  A change of delivery site or delivery mode may affect the Tertiary Education Commission's (TEC’s) approval of the qualification:

  • Private training establishments and wānanga must obtain approval from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to deliver all qualifications through additional delivery sites or delivery modes, notify the TEC of the new site or mode and provide evidence of NZQA approval.
  • Institutes of technology and polytechnics must obtain quality assurance body approval for any new site or delivery mode for the delivery of degrees and provide evidence of such approval.
  • Tertiary education organisations must be accredited to deliver qualifications via the delivery mode(s) employed.
• [8]

  Rule SAC021: Qualifications - approving minor changes

  The two steps below outline how minor changes to qualifications are approved for funding purposes.

  1. Minor changes are approved before they are submitted to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as follows:
     • For tertiary education institutions (TEIs), the academic board approves the minor changes to a qualification internally, and TEIs must supply academic board minutes to the TEC as evidence of internal approval of minor changes
       Note: TEIs should also consult the relevant external quality assurance body to determine their requirements concerning any changes to a qualification
     • For private training establishments, the process for change follows New Zealand Qualifications Authority procedures
  2. Tertiary education organisations must then seek the TEC’s approval to update the TEC Qualifications and/or Course Register - the reasons for the change must be given.