Polytechnics Move To Audit

NZ QA Release

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has extended its delegation to the Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand (APNZ) to allow academic audit. APNZ, through its Polytechnic Programmes Committee, previously had delegated authority to approve and accredit polytechnic programmes below degree level. The change will enable the Polytechnic Programmes Committee to use audit as a mechanism to collect evidence for approvals and accreditations.

The Board of the Qualifications Authority congratulated APNZ on the quality of its audit application and on the progress made in the quality assurance process since the establishment of the Polytechnic Programmes Committee.

The Authority’s chief executive, Norman Kingsbury, said the move to audit was a recognition of the maturity of quality assurance arrangements in the polytechnic sector. “This will allow for smoother processes and has the potential to reduce compliance costs for high performing polytechnics,” said Mr Kingsbury.

“The Authority’s own quality assurance processes will move to audit later this year so the timing is appropriate. We expect industry to be comfortable with the change as an audit approach requires a strong partnership with industry at the provider level. This partnership becomes a foundation for developing programmes rather than part of the approval and monitoring stage, “said Mr Kingsbury.

“Most importantly perhaps, this extended delegation signals a new direction and a shared positive partnership between APNZ and the Qualifications Authority,“ said Mr Kingsbury.

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