The realignment of New Zealand Business QualificationsJohn West

Overview

• The New Zealand mandate for change

• The development of new Business qualifications

• The impact on the Profession

Targeted Review of NZ Qualifications

• In 2008-09 the New Zealand Government initiated a Targeted Review of New Zealand Qualifications (TRoQ)

• Scope of the review:– examine the breadth of qualifications in the New Zealand tertiary

sector, regardless of owner and deliverer– limited to qualifications at Levels 1 – 6

Review Findings

• The review found that the qualifications system was difficult for learners, employers and industry to understand because it:– was not relevant to some employers and industry– was not user-friendly– the status of qualifications was unclear– contained a large number of similar qualifications which made

distinguishing between qualifications and identifying education/career pathways difficult.

Review Outcomes 1

• Coherence of Qualifications– Immediate reduction of the number of qualifications by nearly

one-third on the current NZ Qualifications Register and further significant reductions in the number of qualifications in the medium-term, which will improve clarity for learners and employers

– Use of only New Zealand qualifications

Review Outcomes 2

• Qualification Outcomes– Improved clarity and user-friendliness of the system for learners

and employers, both nationally and internationally, giving them more relevant information with which to make decisions.

• Allowing learners and employers to clearly see what a graduate can do with the learning gained, as well as what the qualification leads on to

• Improving the relevance of qualifications and creating better employment outcomes for employers and employees

• Moving the focus from how qualifications are delivered and assessed to the outcomes for the learner

Framework for NZ Qualifications

• Framework was established to form the basis for qualifications to come out of the review– New Zealand Qualifications Framework– Requirement for all qualifications to be registered– Naming conventions

• Process for getting qualifications on the framework• Qualification design framework

– Graduate Profile– Programme of Study– Delivery/Arrangement

Qualification design framework

TRoQ Implementation Implications

• 85 reviews have been initiated in discrete discipline areas– Cost born but qualification owners– Requires the identification of a Qualification Developer

• Process overview– Qualification Developers mange their own process of

development– NZQA manage the “approval to develop” process to ensure the

concept of discrete areas is maintained – NZQA managed the “approval to list” process which is the final

stage of approval prior to listing for us on the framework– 6 month timeframe from initiating a review to listing of

qualifications

Business TRoQ

• Triggered development activates Nov 2012, implying qualifications would be submitted for listing April/May 2013

• The reality….– No clear Qualification Developer as qualifications are owned and

administered by NZQA as well as professional bodies and TEO’s– A process for determining the Qualificator Developer was

established:• NZQA approached stakeholders for a mandate to collaborate

around the development• A partnership model was agreed to which saw a sector

based Governance Group take on the role as Qualificator Developer

Governance Group Vision

“To provide leadership and direction for the development of cohesive New Zealand business qualifications which are

strategically relevant to New Zealand’s people and communities and their aspirations.”

• Critical focus:– Leadership and direction– Cohesive– Strategically relevant– New Zealand– Aspirations

Business Qualification Landscape

• 230 qualifications• National/New Zealand Qualifications• Significant duplication of “local” qualifications• Qualifications not linked

Process for Business TRoQ

• Needs Analysis• Determination of a Qualification Matrix with stakeholder

consultation• Establishment of Working Groups with multiple points of

stakeholder consultation• Final qualifications determined and registered

Business TRoQ – Step 1

• Needs Analysis– Well developed business skills are required for high performing

workplaces and for businesses to gain competitive advantage– Skills and knowledge for business include

• technical skills• personal attributes

– Skills identified as most in need of improvement by industry groups were customer service and sales skills, team working skills, oral communication, followed by computer skills

– Improving management skills, in particular people management, are needed to lift productivity

– Skills and knowledge should be applied to a workplace or other real or realistic context

Business TRoQ – Step 2

• Business Qualification Matrix

Business TRoQ – Step 3

• Working Groups– Framework for design of a Graduate Profile

• Core technical knowledge and skills – skills that directly related to the discipline area

• Core people skills – interpersonal and communication skills• Core cognitive skills – thinking and processing skills• Core affective skills – skills that relate to oneself and how an

individual “operates” • Core business environment – skills that relate to working in

an external context– Model for assigning qualification credits to the Graduate Profile

Business TRoQ – Step 4

• 12 qualification listed mid 2014

Qualification design framework

ITP Collaboration

• Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology have agreed to work together in designing a common Programme of Study– Developed 5 credit modules of learning– Modules can be repurposed into 15 credit larger courses our

used in a variety of ways, such as workplace assessment, short course delivery

– Likely these will be rolled out in some areas from 2016

Assurance of Quality

• From Moderation to Consistency Management– Moderation – a process of evaluating assessments against a

standard, and ensuring marking of assessment has occurred fairly for students

– Consistency Management – a process of ensuring different programmes of study are achieving the same outcomes at an equivalent standard

• Ongoing role of the Qualification Developer

AAPNZ 2015 Conference Theme

Building Business Acumen

It’s no longer enough to be working in the business, administration professional need to have abetter sense of what the business is about as well.