Why we monitor programmes of study
Monitoring programmes of study provides NZQA and stakeholders assurance that a programme and its delivery continue to meet the criteria for ongoing approval and accreditation.
Monitoring is not intended to replace the actions taken by organisations to monitor, review and regularly improve the quality of the programmes they're responsible for.
On this page
Guidelines and templates
The guidelines for monitoring programmes leading to degrees and related qualifications at Levels 7 to 10 provide detailed information about the process.
Monitors will use the degree monitoring report template to prepare the monitoring report.
NZQA annual monitoring report template [DOCX, 1.1 MB]
Report template for teaching degrees
To monitor Initial Teacher Education (ITE) degrees that lead to registration as teachers by the Teaching Council, NZQA and the Council have developed a monitoring report template.
This template reflects both the relevant NZQA Rules and the Council’s ITE Programme Approval, Monitoring and Review Requirements.
NZQA Teaching Council monitoring report template [DOCX, 1.1 MB]
Monitoring
The monitoring cycle begins when a programme is approved and accredited by NZQA to a tertiary educational organisation.
NZQA, in consultation with the tertiary education organisation, appoints a monitor.
Monitor's responsibilities
The monitor is responsible for:
- coordinating the timing of the visit with the tertiary education organisation at least 2 months before the proposed date
- conducting the monitoring visit
- providing NZQA with a draft monitoring report no later than 10 working days after the visit. We then ask the organisation to confirm the factual accuracy of the draft report
- raising any issues with NZQA which may have an impact on the monitoring process or outcome.
An NZQA evaluator may accompany our monitor for the first visit.
NZQA evaluator's role
The role of the NZQA evaluator, if accompanying the monitor, is to:
- inform the monitor of NZQA’s expectations and processes
- provide neutral and experienced management of the monitoring visit
- when necessary, provide a link between the approval or accreditation of the programme.
What happens next?
The main outcome of any monitoring visit is a monitoring report. This report is produced by the monitor and considered by NZQA and details the monitor’s professional opinion on the quality of the provider’s programme delivery.
After the monitoring visit, this report is emailed to NZQA at:
degreemonitoring@nzqa.govt.nz.
Before formally issuing the report, we ask the tertiary education organisation to confirm the factual accuracy of the draft report prepared by the monitor.
Monitoring outcomes
If the monitoring process highlights any major concerns, we may ask the tertiary education organisation to take steps to address the concerns.
If we continue to have serious or ongoing concerns about the quality or stability of a programme or its delivery, we may consider withdrawing accreditation to deliver the programme.
If programme delivery is consistently stable and meets quality measures, the monitor can recommend that the tertiary education organisation request that NZQA change the monitoring status to self-monitoring.
Self monitoring
The monitor may recommend that the tertiay education organisation asks us to set their programme to self monitoring status.
This happens when the monitor considers a programme and its delivery are stable, and that all quality measures are met.
The programme is still annually monitored. However, the degree monitor is appointed by the tertiary education organisation.
The monitor is required to undertake a monitoring visit and prepare a report for the tertiary education organisation.
The tertiary education organisation is expected to prepare an Annual Programme Evaluation Report (APER) that includes the monitor's findings.
Submitting an APER
The tertiay education organisation is responsible for carrying out the review process each year and sending us a copy of their APER by 30 June.
Costs for degrees and related qualifications monitoring
Charges associated with programmes monitoring are paid by the tertiary education organisation delivering the programme.
Costs are charged on completion of the monitoring.