Global Convention on the recognition of overseas qualifications
New Zealand recently signed the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.
The Global Convention is a United Nations treaty on higher education. It establishes universal principles for the recognition of studies and qualifications in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory way. This helps improve access to higher education and supports the movement of skilled labour between countries.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has responsibility for enabling the recognition of overseas qualifications in New Zealand and of New Zealand qualifications overseas.
International assessment
People who need their overseas qualifications recognised in New Zealand for immigration, professional recognition, employment or further study can apply for an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) from NZQA. An IQA outcome is not a legal decision, but an advisory outcome for Immigration NZ, tertiary education providers or employers to consider.
In New Zealand, tertiary providers make their own admission decisions. You should become familiar with the Global Convention’s general principles when considering an overseas qualification for admission. International good practice requires evaluation decisions about overseas qualifications to be based on appropriate, reliable, accessible and up-to-date information.
You can contact the National Education Information Centre for advice and information about overseas qualifications:
Contact the National Education Information Centre
Email internationalunit@nzqa.govt.nz
Webinars and advice
For a free webinar on the Global Convention, and for further advice about evaluating overseas qualifications:
Email internationalunit@nzqa.govt.nz
For more information about the Global Convention, see:
What is the Global Convention on higher education? (external link) - UNESCO
On this page
Supporting learner safety in and around the water
Summer is here and your learners will be discovering and enjoying New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers. To support learner safety in and around water, we encourage you to discuss water safety with your learners.
There’s more than one way to raise awareness about staying safe in the water, but if you need any tips or resources for your learners, be sure to visit:
Supporting learners to be safe on the road
We encourage you to discuss road safety with your learners so they are aware of the increased risks over the holiday period, and to support them to be safe on the road.
Useful links include:
Driving in New Zealand (external link)
New Zealand Road Code Online (external link)
While not compulsory, we strongly recommend that you encourage your learners to have at least third-party insurance if they drive a vehicle.
Assuring Consistency workshops 2025
Assuring Consistency workshop dates are now set for 2025.
Assuring the national consistency of graduate outcomes helps maintain the integrity of New Zealand qualifications registered on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). We offer workshops to support providers with this process.
Who are these workshops for?
The workshops are useful for education organisations delivering programmes that award New Zealand qualifications (levels 1-6 and Level 7 Diplomas) or are working on developing such programmes.
Staff who will be presenting at consistency reviews will gain the most benefit from the workshops. They can also help in the compilation of evidence for the self-assessment used in consistency reviews, or to support the process in your organisation in other ways.
Is there any charge?
No. The workshops are free.
Are the workshops online?
Yes. All workshops are fully online and run from 9.30am-12 midday.
How do I register?
Follow the links below to register for a date that suits you. You will receive a confirmation email once registered. As numbers are restricted, we ask that you sign up for one workshop only.
If there is no space on your preferred date, you can register on a waitlist. You will be notified if a place becomes available.
The links and dates are available at:
New moderation resources available
A summary of NZQA’s monitoring activities of tertiary education organisations (TEOs) is now available, along with guidance for good internal moderation. The summary and guidance are the result of NZQA monitoring TEOs’ internal moderation systems over several years.
The summary provides insights into how effectively a TEO’s assessment and moderation systems and related quality assurance functions operate.
Monitoring of TEOs’ internal moderation systems is a requirement under NZQA rules. The summary and guidance are available on the NZQA website at:
Monitoring of tertiary education organisations’ internal moderation systems: 2020 to 2024 summary
NCEA Literacy and Numeracy co-requisite extension
The transition period for using standards approved for NCEA Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites has been extended to the end of 2027. The transition period was originally scheduled to end in 2025.
This will give schools, kura and all NCEA providers extra time to adjust to the new requirements and strengthen the teaching and learning of te reo matatini, pāngarau, literacy and numeracy.
More information is on the NZQA website at:
NCEA Literacy and Numeracy requirements
For additional information, see the MoE website:
Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027) (external link)
Supported Learning standards
The Supported Learning unit standards were republished in June 2024 to clarify that the unit standards are intended for ākonga/students with learning and intellectual disabilities.
They are not intended to be used for the NCEA.
Credits for Supported Learning standards excluded from the award of NCEA
From 2025, credits gained from achieving Supported Learning unit standards will no longer be eligible to contribute to the award of NCEA Level 1.
This exclusion applies to all standards in the Community and Work Skills - Supported Learning - Personal, Community and Work Skills Domain, currently 29299-29310, 32927 and 32929.
Change reports
The change reports for NCEA qualifications and achievement standards reviewed in 2024 will be published mid-December at:
Newly registered private training establishments
Seven private training establishments (PTEs) have been registered by NZQA in 2024:
- Auckland Schools Teacher Development Trust (4409)
- Auto SS Academy Limited (6649)
- Convergence Dance Studios Limited (4406)
- Real Estate Institute New Zealand Incorporated (4410)
- SureSafety Limited (4411)
- The Lean Hub Limited (4405)
- TTG Training Tapui Limited (4418)
Details can be found by using the NZQA website search:
NZQA processes
TEO issue of certificates for qualifications and micro-credentials
Specifications for the format of certificates for qualifications and micro-credentials can be found at:
Issuing New Zealand qualification and micro-credential achievement certificates
If you need copies of the NZQCF logos referred to, contact our Client Services team at qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz
Lapse of programme or micro-credential accreditation
If a programme or micro-credential has not been delivered by a TEO for 12 months or more, the TEO’s accreditation will lapse.
You can apply for an extension to programme or micro-credential accreditation before the date of any lapse by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
Keep your PTE current
If you only have accreditation for one programme or approved micro-credential, and it is not delivered for 12 months of more, your organisation’s registration will lapse.
To avoid this, you can apply for an extension of time. Apply for this extension before the 12 months of non-usage ends by emailing qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
For more information about PTE registration see:
Guidelines for applying for registration as a private training establishment
Guidelines for maintaining registration as a private training establishment
Reminders
New guide to student complaints
Most learners in Aotearoa New Zealand have a good study experience, but sometimes issues can arise.
Raising issues early with the education provider gives students the best chance of working them out together. If the issue cannot be resolved, students can get help from a range of organisations. The Learner guide to complaints provides guidance about how and where to raise complaints.
Learner guide to complaints (external link)
Paying on time
Failure to pay NZQA invoices on time could lead to an automatic lapse of registration and course closure for your students.
The lapse is not a discretionary decision and cannot be reversed later. You would need to re-apply for registration and accreditation before you could start delivering again.
If you have any questions about an NZQA invoice, please contact us as soon as possible.
Unfunded international providers data submission
PTEs that enrol international students need to submit their international student enrolment and provider data to the Ministry of Education. This data is used to calculate payments for the Export Education Levy. PTEs make the payments three times a year.
If you are an unfunded PTE enrolling international students, visit the Ministry’s website for more information:
Paying the export education levy – non-funded PTEs (external link)
Student Fee Protection arrangements
We recommend that you regularly review your student fee protection arrangements to make sure they still fit your needs and the requirements in the Student Fee Protection Rules.
Things to check include:
- Are your courses (still) exempt (i.e. under $500)?
- Have you got approval for the mechanism you are using?
- Do you want to change your mechanism?
- Do you want to change your trustee?
If you want to change your arrangement, read through our student fee protection pages:
Coming up this quarter
| Send NZQA your... | Who? | By when? |
|
Different forms for PTEs and TEIs |
TEOs with a financial year-end of 30 September 2024 | 28 February 2025 |
| Independent Assurance Practitioner's Review Report or Auditor's Report |
PTEs with a financial year-end of 30 September 2024 | 28 February 2025 |
| Audit of Student Fee Protection arrangement | PTEs with a financial year-end of 30 September 2024 Find out who is exempt |
28 February 2025 |
|
Quarterly student fee protection attestation Quarter ending 28 February 2025 |
Providers not exempt: - static trusts - bank bond trusts Not required for standard trusts |
To trustee by 8 March 2025 To NZQA by 15 March 2025 |
|
Fit and Proper Person and Conflict of Interest declarations Submit a new or amended declaration: See Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (external link) for the definition of governing member |
PTEs only: - applying for registration - registered PTEs |
As needed |
←
Scroll
→
Forwarding information and queries
Forward the above documents and any queries to: