One of NZQA’s responsibilities is to improve the recognition, understanding and portability of New Zealand qualifications overseas.
On this page
What we do
We help maintain and build on New Zealand’s reputation as a high-quality education provider, and increase the portability of qualifications gained here.
We work closely with other government agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – and they support us in our work.
We:
- provide support as required for trade negotiations involving qualification recognition
- collaborate with other Pacific Island nations to support quality assured qualifications in the region
- improve understanding and recognition of qualifications in other countries.
Some of NZQA's qualifications recognition work fulfills New Zealand's obligations under Free Trade Agreements. We have completed some projects supported by trade agreements, and continue to work in support of others.
How New Zealand support qualification recognition in the Pacific
Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus
ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (external link)
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (external link)
Working with other countries
New Zealand has, and is working towards, formal agreements and arrangements with other countries and groups of countries.
Agreements
Joining already established Conventions and Treaties, agreeing to be bound by existing commitments.
Arrangements
Individually negotiated, detailed procedure has been worked out between NZQA and its counterpart agencies.
Our role as the National Education Information Centre
NZQA is New Zealand’s designated National Education Information Centre (NEIC).
In our role as New Zealand's NEIC, we provide information about the New Zealand education system and qualifications to other NEICs overseas.
In New Zealand we provide advice about overseas education systems, and assess individuals' overseas qualifications against the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (this is called qualification recognition).
See our principles and policies of qualification recognition
Why we do it
In a growing global labour market, qualifications that are more portable between countries are increasingly important.
Our projects also help:
- New Zealanders travelling overseas to have their qualifications recognised
- international students studying here then returning overseas to have their qualifications recognised
- educational institutions to have their qualifications more easily recognised overseas
- inform NZQA's individual qualification recognition decisions
- educational institutions to make enrolment decisions
- employers to make employment decisions.