13. Restrictions on the assessment and moderation of student work by Category 3 and 4 institutions
This rule applies to institutions of the following kind:
Category 4 institutions; and
Category 3 institutions in respect of any programmes, micro-credentials, or standards of a kind notified by NZQA to the institution.
From the date that is six weeks (or such longer period as NZQA may allow) after the date of publication of an EER report that results in an institution to which rule 13.1 applies becoming a Category 3 or 4 institution, the institution must appoint one or more institutions (of the kind described in rule 13.3) to:
carry out pre-assessment moderation of all assessment materials being used to assess students, prior to those materials being used for assessment of the students; and
either carry out the assessment and moderation of all student work, or verify the assessment and moderation of all student work that is carried out by the institution to which rule 13.1 applies.
For the purposes of rule 13.2, the kind of institution that must be appointed is an institution that:
is a Category 1 or 2 institution; and
has proven performance in, and provides, similar programmes or micro-credentials to those in respect of which the students being assessed are enrolled, or has proven expertise in the standards that the students are being assessed against; and
has a sufficient degree of independence from the Category 3 or 4 institution.
An institution to which rule 13.1 applies may not:
if it is a Category 3 institution, enrol new students unless NZQA considers the institution has acceptable assessment and moderation arrangements in place (noting that for Category 4 institutions rule 15 applies); or
use any materials for assessment of students until the pre-assessment referred to in rule 13.2(a) confirms that the materials appropriately assess the relevant learning outcomes; or
release assessment results to students or report results to NZQA until the assessment and moderation referred to in rule 13.2(b) has occurred and any necessary changes to assessment decisions have been made.
The appointment of a Category 1 or 2 institution under rule 13.2 must be set out in a written agreement that meets the purposes of rule 13.2, and -
a copy must be supplied to NZQA by the institution to which rule 13.1 applies prior to the agreement being implemented; and
the institution must address any concerns with the content of the agreement that are notified to the institution by NZQA.
Where an institution has not appointed any necessary Category 1 or 2 institution in accordance with rules 13.2 and 13.5, and NZQA has not approved a longer period for the appointment under rule 13.2, -
NZQA may appoint a suitable Category 1 or 2 institution, or appoint one or more suitably qualified persons, so that students can continue to be assessed in their study or training without unnecessary disruption; and
the Category 3 or 4 institution is responsible for ensuring there is a written agreement in place with the Category 1 or 2 institution or with the suitably qualified person, including provision for payment by the Category 3 or 4 institution of the reasonable cost of the assessment and moderation work carried out, and rule 13.5 applies to the agreement.
Where NZQA is satisfied that an institution to which rule 13.1 applies is fully competent at any particular kinds of assessment and moderation of student work that must be assessed and moderated by an independent institution under rule 13.2, NZQA may release the institution to which rule 13.1 applies from the requirements of rule 13.2 in respect of those kinds of student work.