New Zealand’s first governance qualification

19 February 2013
Institute of Directors pleased to be a part of New Zealand’s first governance qualification

The Institute of Directors (IoD) today congratulated the University of Waikato on developing New Zealand’s first postgraduate certificate in governance.

The University of Waikato has worked with the IoD to deliver the postgraduate governance qualification which was officially launched by the Prime Minister on Friday. Known as G3, the postgraduate certificate is aimed at serving the needs of directors, trustees, board members and elected local government officials.

The nine-month programme will cover governance, ethics, finance, corporate law, strategy and leadership and will be taught by staff from the Waikato Management School and Te Piringa – Faculty of Law. The final section of the certificate puts participant’s new-found knowledge and skills to the test with a project on their own organisation. This capstone project uses the IoD’s flagship publication ‘The Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice’.

Speaking at the launch, IoD Vice-President Stuart McLauchlan said, “Quality professional development is vital for any profession, so we are delighted that Waikato University have developed New Zealand’s first postgraduate certificate in governance. The programme and its aims are consistent with the IoD’s vision of directors being professionals in their own right. It seeks to provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals of governance, finance, strategy and leadership. This contributes to the goal of ensuring that the next generation have the knowledge and skills to be professional, ethical and effective directors in organisations of all types which is vital for the success of our economy.”

“We are delighted that our flagship publication – ‘The Four Pillars’ is a fundamental part of this qualification. It is an essential resource for anyone in the governance community, bringing together a blend of high-level principles and day-to-day practical guidance. An effective director must have a thorough appreciation of the principles of best practice in governance. This includes a commitment to apply these principles at all times and to focus on continuous improvement. The use of the Four Pillars as part of the capstone project will help students put the theory they have learned into practice by applying the principles to a real life situation,” he said.

Mr McLauchlan said, “The last few years have been a time of increasing challenges for businesses and directors. This environment has heightened the awareness of the importance of good governance and the fact that there is no substitute for dedicated directors, with high professional and ethical standards, who have a passion for the business and are relentlessly focused on performance. These directors and the good governance that this programme promotes are essential for a prosperous and successful New Zealand.”

The first intake takes place on 1 April. Anyone interested in enrolling should contact the University of Waikato.
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