In 2020 the Government started to reform the vocational education sector to create a strong, unified and sustainable vocational education system that is fit for the future of work and delivers the skills that learners, employers and communities need to thrive.
It became the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) project.
Find out more about our 2020-2022 consultations
Vocational education
Vocational education is about learning specific skills for a job. Learners can do this while working or studying with a tertiary provider.
Most vocational qualifications and credentials are at Levels 3 to 6 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework. (NZQCF).
On this page
Aims of the reform
The reform of vocational education aimed at creating a system which “is collaborative, flexible, innovative and sustainable for all regions of New Zealand”.
A vocational education system that better responds to the needs of learners and employers by:
- Allowing more flexibility and portability of learning. Learners can choose how they study (classroom, work-based or online learning) and move between mode of study as well as where they want to study throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Facilitating consistency of qualification content so that employers across the country can be confident of what learners know and can do.
- Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Bringing industry, employers, and iwi closer to the design of qualifications.
- Being more inclusive and equitable for all learners.
TEC website - Korowai system map of vocational education (external link)
The new vocational education system
The new vocational education system is now composed of:
- Te Pūkenga - The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) consisting of 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics and 9 Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), now as one institution
- six Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) now responsible for some of the functions of disestablished ITOs
- Taumata Aronui, an independent group providing advice and recommendations on how tertiary education can respond better to the needs of Māori learners and communities
- Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) driving innovation and excellence in vocational education
- Regional Skills Leadership Groups
- a Unified Funding System (UFS) to fund the delivery of vocational education and training.
NZQA's role in the reform
NZQA is the kaitiaki, or caretaker of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
We make sure New Zealand qualifications are trusted and serve the needs of learners and industry.
Our work includes the design of new education products, rules and guidance and changes to our quality assurance processes.
NZQA is working on 4 areas to support the goals of the reform.
Simplifying the design of vocational qualifications
New Zealand qualifications will continue to set out a clear pathway to the level of knowledge, skills and attributes that learners will have achieved upon graduation. A qualification also includes information about further education and employment opportunities to which the qualification could lead.
Three new education products have been designed to meet New Zealand and future skill needs.
Skill standards
These form the building blocks of providers programmes.
Consistent use of building blocks across the system will help learners move between different modes of study - workplace, online and on-campus learning and between providers and regions.
New Zealand Programmes
These use skill standards and define the further context, structure and information needed for teaching and assessment within a specific qualification.
Industry can use this education product when it is important to ensure that how learners learn and are assessed, as well as what they learn, are consistent across the country.
Micro-credentials
These certify achievement of a coherent set of skills and knowledge.
They are smaller than a qualification and may be a skill standard.
Micro-credentials can be a small step on a longer credentialling pathway, support reskilling and address emerging or urgent skill needs.
Supporting the functions of Te Pūkenga and Workforce Development Councils
NZQA is working with Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and business divisions as it moves through various changes to continue to assure quality vocational education.
NZQA is also supporting WDCs as they undertake their new functions to assure relevant education products and trusted assessment for vocational education
Workforce Development Councils (external link)
Te Pūkenga NZIST (external link)
Reviewing and updating the quality assurance framework
NZQA is part way through redesigning the quality assurance framework (QAF) for non-university tertiary education.
This is in response to several drivers:
- meeting the needs of the new vocational education system
- responding to proposed changes to the NZQCF
- better giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- new functions having been added over time, including administration of the Code of Practice 2021 (the Code)
- changes in regulatory practice since the last review, such as more reliance on data and insights and regulators having a greater role in building capability.
Updating internal NZQA systems
NZQA is currently changing our systems to meet the needs of the new vocational education system.