The Code protects domestic tertiary and all international learners in New Zealand.
The videos on this page explain what support learners can expect for their wellbeing and safety while studying in Aotearoa New Zealand.
On this page
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Liam from NZUSA and Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association stand on a beach and speak to the camera]
Liam: The Code sets out the responsibilities of tertiary education providers in promoting and supporting our well-being, education and development as domestic grocery students in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Adibah: The Code has outcomes to support our general pastoral care of students as well as specific outcomes for those of us living in student accommodation.
Liam: Our tertiary providers should be helping us to feel safe, supported, connected, and able to have our say.
We should feel safe. Both physically and mentally.
Adibah: We should be respected in an inclusive learning environment, which is free of racism and discrimination, and be connected with different social and cultural networks.
Liam: We should have a positive and supportive learning and accommodation environment that assists us with our learning and wellbeing.
Adibah: We should be able to have our say in decisions.
If you feel like you're not being supported or that your tertiary provider is not meeting the Code, then you should talk to your tertiary education provider first to try and resolve the matter.
And if you're unhappy with that, then you have every right to contact NZQA.
An overview of the Code (1:09 mins)
Do you know the Code? Hear from Liam at NZUSA and Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association talk more about te oranga me te haumaru ākonga, tertiary learner wellbeing and safety.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Jaistone from Tauira Pasifika and Andrew from NZUSA sit in a city setting and speak to the camera]
Andrew: We all have our own stories. We each come from different backgrounds. And our homes away from home should reflect this diversity.
We should never feel unsafe or like we don't belong in our own homes.
Jaistone: The Code states that student accommodation should provide us with a safe, positive, and supportive living environment.
Andrew: Under the Code, every tertiary provider must ensure that they provide clear information about the student accommodation options so we can make right choice about where to live while we study.
This includes being clear about house rules and the house rules must be reasonable.
Jaistone: Our student accommodation should be inclusive. This can include how providers use physical spaces to ensure accessibility in your accommodation.
They must consider the social environment and providing care based on values, beliefs, faith, and culture.
Andrew: We should feel like we can be ourselves in the places we are living. And if we don't, we should be able to give feedback and raise concerns.
Jaistone: If you feel that your feedback isn't being heard by your provider, find out how you can use the Code to raise your concerns. It’s there to support your well-being.
Accommodation (1:27 mins)
Are you supported to have a positive tertiary accommodation environment? Jaistone from Tauira Pasifika and Andrew from NZUSA talk about how the Code can help.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association and Nkhaya from Te Mana Ākonga stand on a beach and speak to the camera]
Adibah: Poor mental health is something that can affect everybody. This is especially so for those of us facing the added pressures of COVID-19 during our tertiary education experience.
Nkhaya: With added stresses like caring for the whanau, caring for the community and caring for ourselves, life can get pretty overwhelming sometimes.
Adibah: Under the Code, our tertiary provider should give us information to stay on top of our mental health.
Nkhaya: Under the Code, we should all know where to find our mental health services on campus and staff should be trained and be able to recognise when to help students in need.
Adibah: Supporting student well-being is a big focus of the Code, and that will look different for each of us.
Nkhaya: Under the Code, our providers should help us live healthy lives. That includes encouraging healthy study habits, letting us have fun in our halls safely, and promoting good self esteem.
Adibah: Our story of tertiary education should not be one of just getting by. It should be one of personal, social, and educational growth. The Code is here to empower us by ensuring that we are supported during our studies.
Mental health (1:14 mins)
Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association and Nkhaya from Te Mana Ākonga talk about how tertiary education staff should be trained to recognise and respond to learners who may be struggling with their mental health.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Alice from the National Disabled Students Association stands by a harbour and speaks to the camera]
Alice: Did you know that one in four New Zealanders have a disability?
Disability is a much broader population group than we often think. It includes physical, sensory, and learning impairments, chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, neurodiversity, and the deaf community.
Despite such a large population group, we know that students with disabilities still face barriers in tertiary education.
Whether that be accessibility issues on campus, in exams or accommodation, or outright ableist attitudes and practices from staff and fellow learners.
The Code is here to support disabled students and their whanau to hold their tertiary institutions accountable.
Did you know that under the Code, our tertiary providers must assess disabled students to access the support services they need.
This is one of the many outcomes sought in the Code to ensure that tertiary providers support their students to manage their physical and mental health.
The Code is here to ensure that learners and students have their needs met. And to ensure that we have our voices heard.
If you feel that your feedback isn't being heard by your tertiary provider, find out how you can use the Code to raise your concerns.
The Code is here to support disabled students, and it's one more step to paving away to a more equitable tertiary education system in Aotearoa.
Disability (1:34 mins)
Alice from the National Disabled Students Association explains that tertiary providers have a duty to assist disabled students to access support services.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Andrew from NZUSA sits by the waterfront and speaks to the camera]
Andrew: As students, the Code recognizes that we need to be at the center of education. This means that our voices matter.
They need to be heard and actioned.
Universities, polytechs, wānanga, and all providers must be partnering with us to shape the way they deliver services from mental health support to hardship funds.
Pastoral care covers support for our wellbeing, our educational achievement and our personal development.
It includes all the services that educational providers offer.
The one thing that unites these services is that they are all for students. We are the experts of being students and the Code recognises this.
Learner voice (0:49 mins)
Students are experts at being students. The Code is built around this fact. Hear more from Andrew at NZUSA.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association and Nkhaya from Te Mana Ākonga stand by a harbour and speak to the camera]
Nkhaya: Education providers have an obligation to make our learning environments inclusive and to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Adibah: If we feel that our culture, faith and beliefs aren’t being respected, then we have to raise concerns and provide feedback to our providers under the Code.
Nkhaya: This involves all aspects of our learning.
This includes lectures, tutorials, and student accommodation and it also applies to in person and online learning.
Adibah: An inclusive environment is one where our voices are heard, our values are respected, and our way of life is celebrated.
We should be able to feel culturally safe and secure and able to thrive.
Nkhaya: Tertiary providers must have practices for preventing and responding to bullying, racism harassment and discrimination.
If you feel that your provider isn't doing their job on this, then you can speak up under the Code.
Adibah: Reducing racial discrimination begins with building awareness and encouraging diversity.
We all come from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, and this should be celebrated. Our uniqueness is what helps us succeed.
Nkhaya: We can use the Code to help us contribute to this kaupapa.
Inclusive learning environments (1:14 mins)
Adibah from the National Islamic Youth Association and Nkhaya from Te Mana Ākonga talk about how education providers have an obligation to make learning environment inclusive and to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the International Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Summer stands in a park setting and speaks to the camera]
Summer: The Code ensures education providers protect and support international students, from when we leave our home countries to when we finish our education journey here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
All students must be well informed about our protections under the Code and should feel safe and happy while studying here.
Providers have many obligations under the Code from rules about advertising and agents to pre-enrolment information. From rules about providing support for both mental and physical health to information on grievances and complaints.
The Code ensures international students have a positive and enhancing student experience.
If your education provider is not meeting the Code, talk to them first. And if you are unhappy with the outcome, please contact NZQA.
[Screen reads: ‘Find out more’ and shows the following hyperlink]
www.nzqa.govt.nz/know-the-code
An overview of the Code for international learners (0:50 mins)
Do you know what the Code means for international students? Hear from Summer at NZISA talk about te oranga me te haumaru ākonga - tertiary learner wellbeing and safety.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the International Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[KevinJstands in a park setting and speaks to the camera]
Kevin: Did you use an agent when you first began your studies in New Zealand?
Are you still using an agent to assist with your enrolment and your visa applications.
Did you know that your institution has a responsibility under the code to manage and monitor the agents to ensure that they're providing you with the correct information?
Look out for these things when you're using an agent.
Firstly, your agent should be providing you with accurate advice to you and your family.
Secondly, your agents should be working with professionalism and integrity.
Lastly, and most importantly, they should not be breaching the law.
If you're dissatisfied with your agent’s conduct, let your provider know. Your provider should have information on this on their website or through their student support services.
And if speaking to your provider does not resolve the issue, you could always speak to NZQA.
Education agents (0:53 mins)
Are you an international student with an agent? These top tips from Kevin at NZISA can help you stay protected.
Video transcript
[Screen reads: Know the International Code for learner wellbeing and safety]
[Upbeat music plays]
[Afiqah stands in a park setting and speaks to the camera]
Afiqah: As international students, when we start enrolling for courses with schools or tertiary institutions, there are some important things that we need to know.
Study plans might change. That is why every international student should be aware of the terms and conditions around enrolment contracts and termination of enrolment.
There is some key information for you to consider. For example, schools and tertiary providers should be providing correct information so that you can make well-informed decisions.
They are also responsible for keeping updated documentation, making sure that we have current insurance while on student visas.
It's good to note that different timelines where we can withdraw from courses, with or without any refunds.
If you are involved in a disciplinary case, national justice must apply. You have the right to a fair hearing and an unbiased decision.
If you need support outside of your institution, NZQA or iStudent complaints can help you.
This information should be provided by your institution before you start your studies.
We international students should have a good education experience here in New Zealand. The Code and our educational institutions are here to support us.
[Screen reads: ‘Find out more’ and shows the following hyperlink]
www.nzqa.govt.nz/know-the-code
Enrolments and contracts (1:34 mins)
Study plans might change. Afiqah from NZISA shares key contract information all international students should know.