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Tertiary Funding Glossary

(Reference Code: 2849)

A list of terms and abbreviations used in the Tertiary Funding Information.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Term	Definition
Academic board	A committee appointed by the council of a tertiary education institution (TEI) under section 193(2)(i) of the Education Act 1989, which: Advises the council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards and other academic matters. Exercises powers delegated to it by the council.
Academic year	A calendar year.
Accelerated programme of study	A Student Achievement Component-funded programme of study that a learner completes in less time than the norm.
Accreditation	The status awarded by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) when a tertiary education organisation (TEO) has shown that it is capable of delivering an approved course or assessing against standards on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
ACE	See Adult and Community Education (ACE).
Additional sites	Teaching sites that are considered additional to the main campus. For private training establishments (PTEs), additional sites must be included in the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) registration.
Admission	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, this refers to the pre-enrolment process of determining a potential learner’s eligibility to study at the tertiary education organisation (TEO), which may include requirements for entrance examinations or the equivalent. It is sometimes called application or registration. It is not enrolment in a particular course.
Adult and Community Education (ACE)	Promotes and facilitates the engagement of adults in lifelong learning. It contributes to the government’s goals of strengthening communities and raising foundation skills.
AFML	See Annual Fee Movement Limit (AFML).
Annual Fee Movement Limit (AFML)	The AFML limits the permitted increase to fee/course costs that are less than the Fee/Course Costs Maxima (FCCM). The AFML applies to Student Achievement Component-funded non-degree and undergraduate courses for domestic students, and to courses funded under section 321 of the Education Act 1989.
Approved qualification	A quality-assured qualification that has been entered on the TEC Qualifications Register and recognised for access to Student Achievement Component funding or, additionally, learner access to the Student Allowances and Loan Schemes.
Articulation	A legal arrangement where one tertiary education organisation (TEO) delivers, through a formal contract, the course or programme of study leading to a qualification developed and owned by another TEO under the authority of the original owner (a type of franchise arrangement).
ASR	See Assessment of Strategic Relevance.
Assessment of Strategic Relevance (ASR)	A method previously used to determine how well a tertiary education organisation’s (TEO’s) activities aligned with the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES), incorporating the Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP). This has been incorporated into the Investment Plan process.
Attestation	A document in which the signatory, who is responsible for accountability, such as a chartered accountant or person in authority, expresses an opinion to provide assurance to the TEC about the tertiary education organisation (TEO) and the reliability of written assertions, typically combining fact and judgement.

B - there are no definitions

Term	Definition

C

Term	Definition
Campus	A site where a course or part of a course is delivered. This includes temporary sites such as leased hotel facilities.
Capped enrolments	Enrolments in Student Achievement Component-funded qualifications where the government has placed a limit or cap on the number of subsidised places at tertiary education organisations (TEOs), for example tertiary education institutions (TEIs) have capped places in medicine.
Certificate of Personal Interest (CPI)	A programme of study consisting of assessed course(s), approved by an academic board and chosen by an individual learner from an already approved qualification(s), but not credited to any qualification.
Certificate of Personal Study	Individual programmes of study that consist of courses or unit standards selected from an approved qualification(s): either Certificates of Personal Interest or Certificates of Proficiency.
Certificate of Proficiency (COP)	A programme of study consisting of assessed course(s), approved by an academic board and chosen by an individual learner from an already approved qualification(s) but not credited to any qualification.
Classification	Each Student Achievement Component-funded course or programme of study is allocated a classification based on the subject matter of the course and, sometimes, on the level or duration of a course’s home qualification.
Classification prescription	The definitions of the course classification system used for statistical and Student Achievement Component funding purposes.
Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP)	The standing committee of New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC), which quality assures qualifications approved by the academic boards of universities. CUAP has authority delegated to it by the NZVCC. See Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP).
Community Education	See Adult and Community Education (ACE).
Compressed programme of study	A Student Achievement Component-funded programme of study that is completed by delivering the total number of learning hours in a shorter timeframe than the norm for the qualification.
Completion	'Completion' measures the pass rate of learners on a given course expressed as a percentage of total valid learner enrolments and where a final outcome has been established. It is a measure of whether learners succeed in meeting all the course requirements.
Concurrent enrolments	Enrolments of learners who are studying for two or more Student Achievement Component-funded qualifications at the same time with one or more tertiary education organisations (TEOs), or for one qualification that is offered jointly by two or more TEOs.
Condition	A condition is an enforceable requirement that the TEC attaches to funding. See Using the Funding Information.
Conjoint programmes of study	Student Achievement Component programmes of study that lead to two or more qualifications, or programmes jointly taught by one or more tertiary education organisation (TEO). Conjoint programmes often involve cross-crediting arrangements, which enable learners to complete two qualifications in a shorter time than that required to complete each separately, for example double degrees.
Contractor	The party that is subcontracted by a principal tertiary education organisation (TEO). See Principal TEO.
COP	See Certificate of Proficiency (COP).
Course	A course may be known as a paper, module or unit. A course is usually related to an enrolment event. For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a course or a collection of courses form a programme of study which, if completed successfully, results in the award of a qualification.
Course classification	See Classification and New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED).
Course code	A code allocated to a course. For Student Achievement Component-funded courses the code is allocated by the tertiary education organisation (TEO) and can include both numbers and letters.
Course EFTS factor	That portion of the total Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) value for a Student Achievement Component-funded qualification that a course represents. Individual course factors are calculated by the tertiary education organisation (TEO) and must be endorsed by the TEC.
Course Register	A coded list of information on all courses offered by a tertiary education organisation (TEO), which must match courses entered on the Single Data Return (SDR) to determine whether or not the enrolments in a course will be funded. The Course Register is only for courses for which a TEO is seeking Student Achievement Component funding or, additionally, access to the Student Loans and Allowances Schemes.
CPI	See Certificate of Personal Interest (CPI).
Credits points	Indicate the amount of learning required, on average, to complete a qualification or part of a qualification. Credits points also give a transferable value to that learning once it is completed. In most cases, the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) system equates 120 credits with one full-time year of study and 1.0 Equivalent Full-Time Student unit. Some Student Achievement Component funded qualifications use points instead of credits.
CUAP	See Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP).

D

Term	Definition
Deferred Enrolment	See Preferential Placement.
Disaggregation	The process by which a Student Achievement Component-funded qualification and its Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) value is split into courses and course factors, which are then allocated course classifications and funding categories to determine funding.
Distance learning	A mode of delivery for learners who do not attend on-campus courses. Courses are delivered by correspondence, telecommunications, Internet and web-based media, or combinations of media. They may include short periods of on-campus attendance.
Domestic student	A student, including an international student, that meets the criteria for "domestic student" speciifed in the Education Act 1989, and the relevant determination of design of funding mechanism issued by the Minister for Tertiary Education. Domestic students pay domestic fees; not foreign student fees.

E

Term	Definition
Education Act 1989	The Act and its subsequent amendments were passed to reform the administration of education.
Education (Tertiary Reform) Amendment Acts 2002 and 2007	Legislation passed to reshape the tertiary education sector and achieve coherence among different parts of the sector and the strategic use of resources.
Educational body	A body corporate that is recognised by the Minister of Education as a body that provides any educational or development service or facility.
EFTS factor	See Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS).
EFTS units	See Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS).
EFTS value	See Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS).
Electives	Optional courses within a qualification from which a learner makes an individual choice to meet the requirements of the qualification.
Eligibility for funding	The TEC’s approval of a tertiary education organisation (TEO) and its qualifications/courses for funding.
Enrolled learner	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, an enrolled learner is a learner who has completed a tertiary education organisation’s (TEO’s) enrolment process as defined in the regulations set by that TEO and the TEC, according to the Education Act 1989.
Enrolment	The process of allocating an eligible learner a place on a course.
Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS)	The measure of tertiary teaching input for Student Achievement Component funding. Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) units are the length, in part or whole academic years, that it would take an average, full-time learner to complete a qualification. One (1.0) EFTS unit is defined as the learner workload that would normally be carried out in a single academic year (12-month period) by a learner enrolled full-time, for example a bachelor’s degree is normally completed in three years and has an EFTS value of 3.0. The EFTS value indicates the qualification size. It is established by the TEC and is based on the number of credits, total tuition hours or full-time teaching weeks approved by the appropriate external quality assurance body. The EFTS factor indicates the course size (a course being part of a qualification). It is the course’s portion of the qualification’s EFTS value. EFTS units measure course factors multiplied by the number of validly enrolled learners.
ESOL	English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Exchange learner	A learner who is studying through an exchange scheme approved by the New Zealand Immigration Service.
Exemption certificate	A certificate issued by the principal of a secondary school exempting a secondary school learner from full or part-time compulsory attendance.
External approval	Approval provided by one of the external quality assurance bodies external to the tertiary education organisation (TEO). Academic board approval is not considered external approval.

F

Term	Definition
FCCM	See Fee/Course Costs Maxima (FCCM).
Fee/course costs	Fee/course costs refer to the compulsory costs of Student Achievement Component-funded courses, as defined under the Fee/Course Costs Maxima policy.
Fee/Course Costs Maxima (FCCM)	FCCM provides a ceiling above which tertiary education organisation (TEOs) cannot set course fees and course costs, unless exempt. The FCCM apply to Student Achievement Component-funded non-degree and undergraduate courses for domestic students.
Foreign student	Any learner who does not qualify as a domestic student. Foreign students do not qualify for Student Achievement Component funding and pay full-cost fees, unless they are undertaking wholly research-based postgraduate qualifications and are therefore eligible for specified Student Achievement Component funding.
Foundation courses	Courses that are designed to enable learners to gain the necessary background knowledge and skills to undertake tertiary study.
Franchise arrangement	A legal arrangement where a tertiary education organisation (TEO) delivers, through a formal contract, a course or programme of study leading to a qualification developed and owned by another TEO. (An articulation agreement is a specific type of franchise arrangement).
Full-time	See Teaching weeks.
Funding Agreement	Used for funds that are not approved via Investment Plan Approval. It is an agreement signed by the TEC and a tertiary education organisation (TEO) that sets out the terms and conditions related to funding.
Funding category	A grouping of classification prescriptions into bands for the purpose of funding courses/programmes. Funding categories are also prescribed levels that correspond to levels of the tertiary qualification, for example non-degree, undergraduate, postgraduate.
Funding parameters	Information used to calculate Student Achievement Component funding for a particular learner enrolment.
Funding reconciliation	See Wash-up (funding reconciliation).
Funding Schedule	Used for funds that are not approved via Investment Plan Approval. It is an attachment to the Funding Agreement that contains any fund-specific terms and conditions related to funding.

G

Term	Definition
Governance	Controlling structure or body with statutory powers, responsible for the strategic direction and management of a tertiary education organisation (TEO).
Grandparenting	Recognising established custom or expectation, for example fee levels, to minimise unexpected or unfair impact on individuals when circumstances unexpectedly change. Within the context of fees, it often relates to limiting the increase in fees charged to learners part way through their studies when the TEO at which they are studying mergers with another TEO that charges higher fees for similar qualifications. It may also refer to transitional arrangements when government policy changes, such as continuing access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme for existing learners where a qualification loses such approval for learner access.
Gross weeks	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, gross weeks are the maximum number of weeks (within a 12-month period) between the start and end dates of full-time study that learners will need to undertake a qualification or course. This includes all holiday breaks of up to and including three weeks in length, all tuition, study, research, fieldwork and exam weeks required for completion of an approved programme of study. This information is recorded on the TEC Qualifications Register and is used for calculating the number of weeks for which learners may receive loans and allowances.

H

Term	Definition
Home qualification	A course should only be registered with a qualification once. This is referred to as the home qualification.

I

Term	Definition
Inducements	For the purposes of funding and learner access to student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme, inducement refers to offers likely to entice a learner to enrol in a course for reasons other than learning. This can include possession of material items or the prospect of financial gain.
Industry Training Organisation (ITO)	An industry-specific body recognised under section 5 or 8(1) of the Industry Training Act 1992, which sets skill standards for its industry and manages arrangements for industry training that will enable trainees to attain those standards.
Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITP New Zealand; ITPNZ)	Acts as the collective voice for the polytechnics and institutes of technology in New Zealand.
Institute of Technology and Polytechnics Quality (ITPQ)	The operational committee established by the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITP New Zealand). ITPQ is responsible for academic quality assurance within the polytechnic sector under delegated authority from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Institute of Technology	A tertiary institution classified as a polytechnic under the Education Act 1989. See Polytechnic.
International learner	A learner who is not a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand permanent resident. An international learner may be a either a domestic student or a foreign student for funding purposes. See Domestic and Foreign Student Status.
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)	A classification of levels of education ranging from zero to nine developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
IRD	The Inland Revenue Department.
ISCED	See International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).
ITO	See Industry Training Organisation (ITO).
ITP(s)	Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics. See Polytechnic
ITP New Zealand; ITPNZ	See Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITP New Zealand).
ITPQ	See Institute of Technology and Polytechnics Quality (ITPQ).

J - there are no definitions

Term	Definition

K

Term	Definition
KiwiQuals	The New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications established by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. See TEC Qualifications Register.

L

Term	Definition
Learner information policy	A tertiary education organisation’s (TEO’s) required policy for declaring information to learners upon enrolment on such learner matters as withdrawals, fee payments, and refunds. Private training establishments (PTEs) should also provide information on safeguards for learners in the event of TEO liquidation or receivership, and systems for credit transfer to other TEOs.
Learning hours	Includes all the time spent by a learner on study, including self-directed study, practical work and teaching hours. The total number of learning hours could include lecturer and tutor contact hours, tests/assignments, supervised practical placements, study time and examination periods. For Student Achievement Component-funded qualifications 1,200 hours are considered the normal total learning hours expected in one full-time academic year.
Legal entity	An entity permitted and recognised by the law.
Loan Entry Threshold (LET)	Used by StudyLink to match a range of Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) values over varying lengths of study to establish learners’ full-time status and entitlement to access student allowances and the Student Loan Scheme.
Local qualification	An award recognising the successful completion of a programme of study that consists of one or both of: Locally developed courses. A combination of unit standards that is not a national qualification registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

M

Term	Definition
Minor change to a qualification	A change to a Student Achievement Component-funded qualification that does not change the size, level, core content, or Equivalent Full-Time Student (EFTS) value of the qualification. Minor changes must be notified to the TEC with evidence of academic board or New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) approval when required.
MoE	Ministry of Education.
MSD	Ministry of Social Development.
Multi-sites	See Additional sites.

N

Term	Definition
National certificate	A qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
National Qualifications Framework (NQF)	A qualification system designed to recognise the attainment of knowledge, understanding and skills by all people in New Zealand. Administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
National Student Index (NSI)	A database, system and set of processes used to assign all tertiary learners and National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) learners with a unique identifier, the National Student Number (NSN).
National Student Number (NSN)	A unique identifier, which will be a lifetime identification number that learners keep even if they study at more than one tertiary education organisation (TEO). NSNs can only be assigned by authorised people from education agencies. The NSN is the same as a learner’s New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) learner identification number.
NCEA	National Certificate of Educational Achievement.
NETS	Non-Enrolled Truancy Services.
New course	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a new course is one that has substantive differences from an existing course, whether it is assigned a new or existing course code. The criteria used for a ‘substantive difference’ are the same as those used for significant changes to a qualification.
New Zealand Activity Hook-on Number	See National Student Number.
New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants	Professional body representing New Zealand accountants.
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)	The government agency charged with the responsibility for approving qualifications and courses, and registering and accrediting tertiary education organisations (TEOs) (other than universities) to deliver these qualifications and/or assess against standards. The NZQA quality assures secondary and tertiary qualifications as well as TEOs, evaluates overseas qualifications and administers the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications and the National Qualifications Framework, including the NCEA. See Registration.
New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications (NZRQAQ)	A database of all quality assured qualifications available in New Zealand of 40 credits or more that is publicly accessed through the KiwiQuals website. See www.kiwiquals.govt.nz (opens in a new window). All qualifications have been approved by a recognised quality assurance body and are delivered by an accredited education or training organisation.
New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED)	The classification system that allocates tertiary courses with a classification according to the broad, narrow and detailed subject fields into which they fall. These classifications are combined into a six-digit number.
New Zealand Teachers Council	The professional body for all registered teachers working in early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary and other teaching situations. The Teachers Council was established under the Education Standards Act 2001.
New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU)	An independent body established and owned by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC). The body reviews academic quality monitoring systems in relation to universities’ aims and objectives, and advises the NZVCC on good practice and quality assurance issues. See Academic Board.
New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC)	A committee, established under section 240 of the Education Act 1989, comprising the university vice-chancellors that, among other functions, is responsible for the final approval and quality assurance of university qualifications.
90% rule	The requirement that at least 90% of the content or subject matter of an individual Student Achievement Component-funded course must fit into a single classification of the 1–39 Classification Prescription for it to be assigned a classification.
Non-formal education	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, this refers to any learning that does not give the learner an opportunity to gain credit towards a recognised qualification. This learning would not normally include an assessment process.
NQF	See National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
NQF level or register level	There are 10 levels within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) relating to different levels of complexity of learning. Level 1 is the entry level. Each level defines the learning outcome and is set nationally according to general guidelines. The ‘Register level’ of a qualification is the same as its NQF level. The term ‘register level’ is replacing the term ‘NQF level’.
NSI	See National Student Index (NSI).
NSN	See National Student Number (NSN).
NZICA	See New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
NZQA	See New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
NZSCED	See New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED).
NZUAAU	See New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU).
NZVCC	See New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC).

O

Term	Definition
OTEP	See Other tertiary education provider (OTEP) and Educational body.
Other Tertiary Education Provider (OTEP)	A tertiary education organisation (TEO) recognised under section 321 of the Education Act 1989. The criteria for recognition includes whether a TEO is supplying a service of national significance that cannot generally be funded through other mechanisms.

P

Term	Definition
Part time	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a qualification offered part time has the same EFTS value as its full-time equivalent but is delivered over a longer period. A learner may elect to study a full-time qualification on a part-time basis by enrolling in fewer courses than the normal learner full-time workload. A qualification may be offered on a part time basis. The term can be applied to either the qualification or the learner.
PBRF	See Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF).
Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF)	A contestable fund that rewards and encourages research excellence. It forms part of the TEO Component. There are three components to the fund: Research quality – comprising 60%. Research degree completions – comprising 25%. External research income – comprising 15%.
Permanent resident	A learner who has been granted the status of a permanent resident of New Zealand. Once residency is obtained, the learner is entitled to Student Component subsidies and to pay domestic student fees, as long as the learner is resident in New Zealand and satisfies the criteria (if any) prescribed by regulations to fulfil the requirements of a domestic student. Permanent residents can also access the Student Loan Scheme at any time, and the Student Allowances Scheme once they have been resident for two years.
Polytechnic	A tertiary education institution (TEI) that is characterised by a wide diversity of vocational and professional programmes. It includes an institution established as a polytechnic, institute of technology, technical institute or community college under the Education Act 1964.
Postgraduate Fee Increase Limit (PFIL)	A limit on the annual increase in Student Achievement Component-funded postgraduate fee/course costs for domestic students. Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) may apply to the TEC for an exemption from this limit.
Postgraduate study	Study beyond the final year of a bachelor degree (levels 8, 9, or 10) undertaken by an enrolled learner (normally a graduate) in a quality-assured programme of study at a tertiary education organisation (TEO) eligible for funding.
PPBG	See Public Provider Base Grant.
Preferential Placement	When there are limited course places available, a learner who enrolled on a previous academic cycle but was unable to continue, for example because of an injury, may have their place deferred. Preferential placement gives the learner priority to enrol for one of the limited places on the course later.
Principal TEO	The tertiary education organisation (TEO) that is subcontracting any part of a qualification or course to a contractor. See Contractor.
Private Training Establishment (PTE)	A privately owned education organisation, registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), that provides education, training or assessment services.
Professional master’s degree	A postgraduate degree that: Is at the master’s level. Is focussed on the application of studies to a particular profession or professional context. Is intended primarily to be taken on a part-time basis by people working in the profession/industry on which the degree is focussed. Involves substantial case-study work (and a research project) related to the profession/industry on which the degree is focussed.
Programme-based classification	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, this refers to a classification for a complete programme or qualification. While programmes are still disaggregated into courses of study with individual course factors, the courses are all claimed in one classification.
Programme of study	The total educational workload to be attempted by a learner in a formal enrolment in any academic year for which the tertiary education organisation (TEO) receives Student Achievement Component funding. See Course.
PTE	See Private Training Establishment (PTE).
Public Provider Base Grant	This is part of the TEO Component and supports TEIs with their core roles and distinctive contributions. This support provides for effective governance and management, working with stakeholders, and maintaining a culture of continuous performance improvement.

Q

Term	Definition
Qualification	The official award given in recognition of the successful completion of a programme of study. To be eligible for Student Achievement Component funding, a qualification must be approved by the appropriate quality assurance body and the TEC.
Qualification code	The code that appears on the TEC Qualifications Register listing qualifications that are approved for Student Achievement Component funding and/or access to the Student Allowances and Loan Schemes.
Quality assurance body	A body that has legislated or delegated authority for quality assurance functions, for example the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) of the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC), the Institute of Technology and Polytechnics Quality (ITPQ) of the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITP New Zealand) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Academic boards may also quality assure some qualifications with the approval of the relevant QAB listed above.
Quality-assured qualification	A qualification that is approved by any of the recognised quality assurance bodies.

R

Term	Definition
REAP	See Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)	Previous learning and experience for which learners receive credit or academic recognition. This may include courses/programmes of study that learners have previously undertaken, non-formal prior learning, and work and/or life experience. Also known as Approved Prior Learning (APL).
Record of Learning (ROL)	Every learner gaining credits on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) receives a ROL that lists all unit standard and achievement standard credits, national certificates, and national diplomas achieved in the previous year. When a learner enrols in a programme that leads to NQF credits, their details and registration fee are forwarded to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). They will be registered for the NQF and given a unique learner identification number. Learners can accumulate framework credits over a number of years and from many tertiary education organisation (TEOs) until they have completed a qualification.
Register level	This term is replacing the term ‘NQF level’. The Register level is the same as the NQF level. See NQF Level.
Registration	The process by which New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) ensures that a tertiary education organisation (TEO) is capable of providing high quality education and training in a sound and safe learning environment. This is a prerequisite for eligibility to TEC funds.
Relevance	Relevance refers to the extent to which education and research aligns with the needs of stakeholders and the goals for New Zealand set out in the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES).
Retention	Retention measures, where a final outcome has been established, how many learners complete a course both successfully and unsuccessfully as a percentage of total valid learner enrolments.
ROL	See Record of Learning (ROL).
Rolling triennium	The setting of Student Achievement Component funding subsidy rates three years in advance, with funding rates for one further year rolled out every year.
RPL	See Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Rule	A rule is an enforceable requirement of the relevant funding mechanism, or prescribed by legislation. It includes operational details developed by the TEC. See About Student Achievement Component Funding.
Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP)	A community-based tertiary education organisation (TEO) providing a flexible, education resource, formal and non-formal education services for defined rural communities within geographical districts, excluding any urban areas with populations greater than 20,000.

S

Term	Definition
SAC	See Student Achievement Component.
SACQO	See Student Achievement Component Qualifications Objectives (SACQO).
SDR	See Single Data Return (SDR).
Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR)	A funding resource managed by the Ministry of Education (MoE) that assists secondary schools to purchase non-conventional or tertiary level courses and tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to better meet the needs of their senior learners, for example in hairdressing, electro-technology, childcare and business.
Services for Tertiary Education Organisations (STEO)	A Ministry of Education (MoE) and TEC website for tertiary education organisations (TEOs).
Short course	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a course lasting less than two weeks and/or up to 40 hours full-time equivalent tuition over a longer period.
Short award	A qualification of less than 40 credits.
Significant change to a qualification	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a significant qualification change is one that results in a need for new quality assurance body approval and new funding approval from the TEC. For a list of the types of change classified as significant see Identifying Significant Changes The definition of a significant change is under review by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
Similar course	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, a similar course: Addresses the same area of skills. Is taught at the same National Qualification Framework (NQF) level. Has a similar proportion of theory and practical learning, for example the amount of laboratory training in chemistry.
Single Data Return (SDR)	An electronic collection of learner statistics and tertiary tuition learner enrolment information provided to the TEC and the Ministry of Education (MoE) by tertiary education organisations (TEOs). This information is required for monitoring and statistical purposes - not the calculation of funding.
Special Supplementary Grant (SSG)	Due to the changes resulting from the tertiary reforms, SSG funding is in a transitional period. SSGs targeted at Maori and Pacific students, and Tertiary Students with Disabilities are now the Equity Funding component of the TEO Component fund. The remaining Special Supplementary Grants are made available to eligible tertiary education institutions for specific purposes.
Specialist college	A specialist college is characterised by teaching and (if relevant) research of a specialist nature that maintains, enhances, disseminates, and assists in the application of knowledge and expertise.
SSG	See Special Supplementary Grant (SSG).
SSP	See Statement of Service Performance (SSP).
Stakeholder	Any organisation, group or individual with an interest in tertiary education.
Standard Training Measure (STM)	The amount of training that is required for a trainee to achieve 120 Register credits (or its equivalent) in an approved structured training programme.
STAR	See Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR).
Statement of Service Performance (SSP)	In relation to Student Achievement Component funding, for non-tertiary education institution (TEI) tertiary education organisations this is an audited qualitative and quantitative reporting requirement. The report covers each significant activity or objective included in the Student Achievement Component Qualifications Objectives (SACQO). TEIs must also prepare an SSP, although to a different basis to non-TEI TEOs.
Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP)	This is incorporated into the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) and specifies the particular priorities for a given period, signalling the types of activities and education provision that tertiary education organisations (TEOs) should focus on.
STEO	See Services for Tertiary Education Organisations (STEO).
STEP	See Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities.
STM	See Standard Training Measure.
Strands, majors, or threads	The combination of courses within a programme of study that make up the primary or majority educational objectives of a qualification. There may be several optional strands within a qualification and learners choose their preferred option.
Student Achievement Component	This is the largest funding pool supporting delivery of Investment Plans. The Student Achievement Component (SAC) is the government’s contribution to the direct costs of teaching and learning and other costs driven by student numbers within approved tertiary education Investment Plans.
Student Allowances and Loan Schemes	The schemes implemented by StudyLink, a division of the Ministry of Social Development, which provide eligible learners with financial assistance.
Student Component	This was the largest fund of the Integrated Funding Framework (IFF) until the end of 2007. It has been absorbed into the Student Achievement Component and TEO Component funds.
Student Achievement Component Qualifications Objectives (SACQO)	A document prepared by tertiary education organisations exempt form having Investment Plans for 2008 Student Achievement Component-funded delivery. This document is being discontinued from 2009.
StudyLink	The division of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), which is responsible for the administration of student allowances, student loans and unemployment benefit student hardship (formerly community wage learner). StudyLink works in co-operation with tertiary education organisations (TEOs) and learner bodies to ensure learners get the finance they are eligible for so they can complete tertiary study.
Subcontracting	Subcontracting arrangements are those where a tertiary education organisation (TEO) engages others to deliver teaching and learning on its behalf. TEOs who subcontract provision remain responsible for any subcontracted provision as if they had delivered the provision themselves.
Summer school	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes this refers to an optional teaching period that is taught in addition to the normal teaching year.

T

Term	Definition
TEI FM (previously TAMU)	See TEI Financial Monitoring.
Taught postgraduate course	Any course at level 8 or higher that does not meet the criteria for a research-based postgraduate course. Postgraduate qualifications that are made up of courses at a variety of levels will be disaggregated and funded at the relevant levels.
Teacher Registration Board	A former Crown entity that has now been disestablished and its functions assumed by the New Zealand Teachers Council. See New Zealand Teachers Council.
Teaching weeks	For Student Achievement Component funding purposes, teaching weeks are the full-time weeks of learner learning, like total learning hours, including all the time spent on study, teaching time, self-directed study, practical work and examinations, excluding holiday breaks within the start/end dates of the programme of study. Also known as tuition weeks.
TEC	See Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
TEC Qualifications Register	The TEC database of quality assured qualifications offered by Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) that are eligible for Student Achievement Component funding or, additionally, learner access to the Student Allowances and Loan Schemes. See KiwiQuals.
TEI	See Tertiary Education Institution (TEI).
TEOC	See TEO Component.
TEO Component	Funding provided to a tertiary education organisation independent of student enrolment levels, to support its Investment Plan. The TEO Component comprises six elements. Together these support the areas critical to ensuring TEOs' capability and maintaining a responsive and effective network of provision.
TEO	See tertiary education organisation (TEO).
TEI Financial Monitoring	TEI FM (previously TAMU) is the TEC unit responsible for managing the government’s ownership interest in the tertiary education institutions (TEIs). TAMU’s main functions are to: monitor TEI financial performance, governance and management; advise the Minister on appointments to the TEI councils; and, build TEI governance and management capability. TAMU also takes the lead on financial risk assessments, and TEI interventions.
Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)	The TEC was established by the Education (Tertiary Reform) Amendment Act 2002 and commenced operation on 1 January 2003. See the About TEC section.
Tertiary education institution (TEI)	An institution established under section 162 of the Education Act 1989 (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, specialist colleges and formally established wananga).
Tertiary education organisation (TEO)	An organisation that is public, private or community-based, offering tertiary education or tertiary-related services.
Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) 2007–2012	A high-level set of government strategic priorities and associated strategies for tertiary education. The TES incorporates the Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP) 2008 - 2010.
TES	See Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) 2007–2012.
Tripartite Funding	Funding provided to universities to support their research capacity, now part of the TEO Component (PPBG) designated 'International Competitiveness'. The first tranche of funding came from the 2006 universities' tripartite agreement.

U

Term	Definition
Unit standard	A nationally registered, coherent set of learning outcomes and associated performance criteria, with technical and management information that supports delivery and assessment. All unit standards are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), assigned a level and a credit value, and may contribute to the award of a national certificate or diploma.
University	A tertiary education institution (TEI) that has the following characteristics: Primarily concerned with more advanced learning, the principal aim being to develop intellectual independence. Research and teaching are interdependent and most of their teaching is done by people who are active in advancing knowledge. Meets international standards of research and teaching. Is a repository of knowledge and expertise. Accepts a role as critic and conscience of society.
Unqualified audit	A statement by a chartered accountant who has audited a tertiary education organisation’s (TEO’s) annual financial statements that indicates the auditor had no areas of concern with the content of those statements.

V

Term	Definition
Valid learner enrolment	An enrolment is meeting the specified requirements for enrolment in TEC-funded qualifications and courses. A valid enrolment is required for receiving funding for that learner.
Verification of Study (VoS)	A report used by StudyLink for tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to verify information about learner enrolments for learners who apply for student allowances and/or loans.
VoS	See Verification of Study (VoS).

W

Term	Definition
Wananga	A tertiary education institution (TEI) that provides tertiary education, training, and research that advances and disseminates knowledge, develops intellectual independence, and assists the application of knowledge about ahuatanga Maori (Maori tradition) according to tikanga Maori (Maori custom).
Wash-up	An adjustment in funding (either positive or negative), resulting from a difference between projections or undertakings, and actual delivery. Under an Investment Plan, funding recovery may be made if delivery is less than 97% of the Student Achievement Component delivery agreed in a Plan. Wash-ups are provided for in a number of funds.
Withdrawal	The documented decision of an enrolled learner to formally withdraw from a course. This may be instigated by the learner or the tertiary education organisation (TEO).

X - there are no definitions

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