2022 Development of Foundation Skills unit standards

Closed 1 December 2022

NZQA National Qualifications Services (NQS) has developed new unit standards to support the New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 1) [Ref: 2861].

Foundation and Bridging qualifications (external link). The new standards are intended as assessment tools in programmes leading to the award of the qualification.

There are 12 unit standards that have been specifically designed to align with the Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPOs) of the level 1 foundation skills qualification.

Programme developers may consider embedding these standards in their programmes.

NQS invites comment and feedback on the new domain and standards below.

nqs@nzqa.govt.nz 

Feedback is due by Wednesday 30 November. Responses can be in any form, including annotated standards.

New domain

It is proposed that a new domain for these standards will be created: Foundation Skills – Te Ara Tupu. ‘Te Ara Tupu’ can be interpreted as ‘a new path’.

For GPO 1:

Identify and develop self-management and resilience strategies to organise personal life, maintain well-being and continue learning (15 credits)

For GPO 2:

Interact appropriately with people from their own and other cultures, individually and in group environments, including work and community (10 credits)

For GPO 3:

Apply basic skills in literacy and numeracy and digital technology, as well as a range of other literacies, in structured and familiar contexts (20 credits)

For GPO 4:

Identify leadership qualities of a rangatira, and reflect on how these relate to their own strengths, personal goals and future pathways (15 credits)

Thank you in advance for your contribution to the quality of these new standards.

Please note

It is proposed to develop unit standards in 2023 to support the New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 2862].

Expressions of interest in being involved in this project are invited. Email NQS at:

nqs@nzqa.govt.nz.