Ensuring the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and its supporting systems continues to support vocational education will be a key focus for NZQA in 2022.

During the first half of this year NZQA will be working on implementing the changes that were announced in 2021. This will include detailed product design, rules, and guidance, as well as an approach to developing provider understanding and capability to:

• Replace unit standards with skill standards
• Enable the implementation of ‘national curricula’
• Transfer existing training schemes to micro-credentials

NZQA and WDCs commenced the co-design process in mid- February with other key education stakeholders to design templates and examples of skill standards and ‘national curricula’, and the guidance for operational delivery. The proposals developed through this process will be formally consulted on with the wider sector later in 2022.  

Arrangements for the consultation and the final implementation of the new products will be finalised over the coming months. 

Towards the later part of 2022, NZQA will also commence a review to update the quality assurance framework and the associated processes. This work will include the incorporation of the new organisations and revised quality assurance principles in processes to ensure streamlined delivery of these functions. The deliverables and timelines for this work are currently being developed.

Throughout 2022, NZQA will continue to work with Te Pūkenga and the WDCs as they stand up their new organisations and formally commence the delivery of their new functions. Integral to this work has been supporting TITOs through the process of transferring their functions to other parts of the system, and in some cases supporting their transition to becoming a private training establishment.

Finally, NZQA is updating its internal systems to support the delivery of these reforms. This work is expected to be developed alongside the delivery of components of the work programme.

If you wish to find out more about the programme of work, please visit the NZQA website or sign up to our NZQA RoVE database database to keep informed about our programme of work throughout the year.  Alternatively, if you have a specific question please email us at RoVE@nzqa.govt.nz