Our quality assurance system for tertiary education providers

An overview of how we quality assure tertiary education in New Zealand

NZQA is one of the government agencies that manage and regulate education in New Zealand. We're responsible for making sure that tertiary education in Aotearoa is high quality.

Our quality assurance system applies to all private training establishments, wānanga, Te Pūkenga and government training establishments. Universities New Zealand is responsible for quality assurance in universities.

Our quality assurance system places high trust in providers, who are expected to self-assess on a regular basis and use their findings to improve

There are 4 main parts to the system:

  • entry processes
  • maintaining quality
  • external evaluation and review
  • managing risk.

Te Hono o Te Kahurangi

Organisations that follow kaupapa Māori or teach mātauranga Māori can choose the Te Hono o Te Kahurangi approach to quality assurance.

Te Hono o Te Kahurangi allows providers to engage with NZQA using Māori values.

Learn more

Our quality assurance system

The quality assurance system is based on self-assessment. All tertiary education organisations use self-assessment to:

  • monitor their own quality
  • monitor outcomes for learners and stakeholders, including employers
  • make worthwhile improvements to outcomes and learner achievement.

Entry processes

We quality assure new providers and products before they become part of New Zealand's training and education system. You need to apply to NZQA to:

  • register as private training establishment
  • become a signatory to the Code of Practice
  • list qualifications or credentials on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF)
  • list standards on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards (DASS)
  • have programmes of study approved
  • seek accreditation to deliver programmes or micro-credentials
  • gain consent to assess standards listed on the DASS.

Maintaining quality

We maintain quality in tertiary education through:

  • moderation of standards
  • monitoring programmes
  • ensuring consistency of graduate outcomes
  • monitoring compliance with the Code of Practice.

External evaluation and review

We evaluate the quality and performance of education providers through the external evaluation and review process. In an external evaluation and review, we look at an organisation's:

  • learner achievement
  • pastoral support
  • educational practices
  • capability in self-assessment.

After external evaluation and review, providers are categorised according to 2 statements of confidence covering educational performance and capability in self-assessment. Categories affect what the provider can apply to do.

Managing risk

We collect information about providers and programmes from our quality assurance processes. We may also receive concerns raised by students, staff, and other government organisations.

If there's a risk to learners or a potential breach of legislative requirements, we take action to manage the risk. Our actions may include:

  • working with providers to make sure they're fixing the issue
  • imposing conditions on accreditation or registration
  • issuing compliance notices
  • withdrawing consent to assess, accreditation or approval
  • cancelling registration
  • taking legal action for breaches of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Our role as Code administrator

The Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice protects international learners and domestic tertiary students in Aotearoa.

As the Code administrator, we:

  • monitor compliance with the Code
  • support providers to meet their Code obligations
  • promote the Code
  • investigate learner complaints and look into possible Code breaches.

Information for providers

Find detailed information about our quality assurance processes and functions.

Self-assessment

Learn more

Approval, accreditation and registration

Entry processes

External evaluation and review (EER)

Learn more

Code of Practice

The Code for providers

National external moderation

Moderation for tertiary providers

Provider categories after EER

View categories

Monitoring and assessment

Our monitoring activities

Statutory actions

Learn more

Find more information about quality assurance and regulatory requirements in the rules