Following consultation through 2025 and the approval of the updated NZQA Rules, NZQA’s new integrated Quality Assurance Framework (iQAF) is now live.
Changes for providers
We have commenced work on transition and on updating our processes and guidance. Throughout 2026 we will regularly engage with you and inform you of the detailed changes.
In the meantime, here are the changes at a glance:
- From 1 January we are not beginning any new external evaluation and review (EER) processes or assuring consistency reviews, though those already underway will be completed.
- Providers will need to submit an annual self-review summary report to NZQA and meet with us to discuss the improvement plan. Over the coming months we will provide templates to support the self-review process and engage with you on scheduling your first submission.
- Providers are expected to continue reviewing their practices against the Education Code of Practice (the Code). However, the reporting of the Code self-review will be combined with the annual TEO self-review submission process.
- The frequency of degree programme monitoring will reduce. As a transition measure, we will ask providers with programmes on self-monitoring status to submit the annual programme evaluation reports (APER) to NZQA this year. We will establish some monitoring priorities for programmes on NZQA-monitoring status and will engage with providers individually.
More detailed information about the changes will be available on the Quality Assurance Hub in the coming months.
EER categories
As EERs are discontinued, the category rating system associated with EERs will cease.
Providers continuing to refer to their EER category must provide an accompanying statement as required by Rule 10 of the Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules 2026 [PDF, 485 KB].
Agencies that use EER categories in their processes may grandparent providers’ EER categories. For example, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has confirmed (external link) it will continue using current EER category ratings when establishing visa conditions in 2026. Please contact the relevant agency if you have any queries about grandparenting.
A description of overall TEO quality
In previous public consultations on the design for iQAF, NZQA proposed a simpler ‘compliant/non-compliant’ view of a TEO’s education quality, rather than a four-category rating system as used under EER.
Many consultation submissions asked for a more graduated mechanism to inform the public of a TEO’s quality.
Government agencies also expressed a preference for a more nuanced way to summarise TEO quality to inform their respective activities.
Our regulatory activity shows TEOs already have measures and practices designed to drive quality outcomes. We aim to describe quality in a way that builds on and complements these existing approaches.
We will work with providers and agencies in the first half of 2026 on ways to describe a TEO’s overall quality. We envisage public consultation on a proposed approach, and how it would be reflected in NZQA Rules, will take place mid-2026.