NZ qualifications framework - NZQA second round of consultation on review

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) began a review of the NZ Qualifications Framework (NZQF) late last year. The overall objective is to update the NZQF given the challenges posed by the 'future of work'. The intention is to ensure the NZQF is 'fit for purpose', flexible and adaptive to reflect future needs of learners, employers, communities and iwi.

In the first round of consultation, the NZQA sought perspectives on four high level proposals. These were:
 1: include a wider range of education products on the NZQF
 2: more explicitly embed transferable competencies into the NZQF (e.g. critical thinking, communication, collaboration and citizenship)
 3: address some long-standing technical issues in the NZQF
 4: make the NZQF easier to use and more relevant to all stakeholders. This includes ensuring that mātauranga Māori is reflected throughout the framework and that mātauranga Māori qualifications are recognised

Results from this first round of consultation have now been collated and a second round of consultation is underway. Submissions are called and close on the 9th of September.

The further consultation are to find out views on eight proposals:

1. Including a wider range of quality assured education products onto a broader qualifications and credentials framework
2. Embedding transferable competencies into the NZQF
3. Ensuring that vocational qualifications can be listed at higher levels of the NZQF
4. Addressing the level 7 Diploma issues
5. Addressing the level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree issues
6. Supporting the development of degree apprenticeships
7. Addressing other technical issues raised in the review
8. Making the NZQF easier to use and more relevant to all stakeholders.

The consultation paper, provides rationale and commentary on each of the proposals. Following on from this second consultation, the NZQA will undertake the technical design work on the architecture of the NZQF. These will then be circulated for another round of consulation.

The longer timeline is to ensure oucomes of various other reviews are aligned. Notably the Review of Vocational Education (RoVE), the review of the school exit qualifications for the National Certificates in Educational Attainment (NCEA) and Tomorrow's school (on school governance).