New Zealand qualifications can be obtained through different programmes and education organisations.
Our quality assurance processes assure stakeholders that even though graduates have completed their qualifications through different programmes, they achieve the same outcomes at an equivalent standard.
The quality assurance process we use is assuring national consistency of graduate outcomes. It applies to New Zealand qualifications at Levels 1 to 6 and Level 7 diplomas of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
These guidelines outline our approach to assuring national consistency and contain helpful information for education organisations.
On this page
1. Process of assuring consistency
NZQA uses consistency review meetings, facilitated by a consistency evaluator, to allow education organisations to demonstrate their understanding of qualification outcomes and how well the graduates of their programmes meet those outcomes.
The format and structure of these reviews is flexible to respond to the wide range of qualifications, including those meeting the distinctive needs and aspirations of Māori.
Before the review
Each participating education organisation gathers evidence, through its self-assessment and its other processes, to show how their graduates meet the outcomes specified in the listed qualification and the approved programme.
The education organisation sends NZQA a self-assessment report which includes this evidence 10 days before the scheduled meeting.
During the review
A representative from the education organisation will present a verbal summary of their report.
The consistency reviewer makes an evaluative judgement that rates the quality of the self-assessment and supporting evidence each individual education organisation provides about the consistency of its graduates in relation to the qualification's graduate outcomes.
The active and effective participation of education organisations in the consistency review meeting assists the consistency evaluator in this evaluation.
After the review
Each education organisation receives a rating of ‘sufficient’ or ‘not sufficient’.
2. Evaluative approach
We make decisions about the quality and sufficiency of evidence supplied by each education organisation and the consistency of the qualification by using an evaluative approach.
Confidence in the overall standard or level that has been achieved is implicit in this approach.
The evaluative methodology enables conclusions about quality, value and importance to be reached on a transparent and robust basis. The approach requires consistency reviewers to:
- be explicit about the evidence on which judgements are made as well as the logic of their interpretation (that is, the evidence does not speak for itself)
- make the outcome available in a written report that is clear and readily understood.
There are two steps in the process of reaching the decision about the consistency of the qualification.
3. Responsibilities in the consistency review process
4. Sequence for the consistency review process
Here are all the steps that lead up to a consistency review and the steps during and after a consistency review:
- New Zealand qualification developed and listed on the NZQCF.
- Education organisations gain accreditation for programmes that will lead to the award of the qualification.
- The education organisations deliver the programmes and award graduates. Education organisations self-assess programmes with a link to the graduate outcomes.
- NZQA develops and publishes a consistency review schedule and invites education organisations to review meetings.
- Education organisations complete the self-assessment and supporting evidence report to answer the evaluation question and submit to NZQA 10 days before the review date.
- Education organisations attend the consistency review meeting and present summary of evidence.
- Consistency reviewer makes evaluative judgement based on the submission from the education organisations.
- NZQA publishes consistency review report and informs education organisation of their rating - ‘sufficient’ or ‘not sufficient’.
5. Participating in the consistency review
This section helps applicants understand the consistency review process and prepare for participating in it.
It outlines what happens at each stage and gives targeted guidance for participants.