Ngā kupu takamua a Te Pouwhakahaere Matua

Chief Executive's foreword

Read our Chief Executive's foreword to our Statement of Intent for 2022/23 to 2025/26

Introduction

As the education sector and its operating environment continue to evolve, NZQA’s core roles – ensuring trusted assessment and quality assurance, and supporting relevant qualifications – have an important role to play; particularly as the future of work requires people to gain valued qualifications (including NCEA), retrain and upskill throughout their working life. 

All of NZQA’s activities are underpinned by our vision – supporting people to ‘Qualify for the future world | Kia noho takatū ki tō āmua ao’. 

“Qualify for the future world”
Kia noho takatū ki tō āmua ao

Te mana taurite o te angitūtanga i te ao mātauranga | Equity of educational achievement

We are continuing to drive towards equity for Māori and Pacific students, disabled learners and those with additional learning needs, including through the implementation of our Māori and Pacific Strategic Action Plans. 

We are also introducing more opportunities to hear, and be responsive to, the lived experience of students and learners in all stages of our work. We are fortunate to have secondary and tertiary students working with us through Te Kāhui Ākonga, NCEA Pacific Navigators, and strong relationships with tertiary student associations.  

These groups are complemented by the wisdom shared through Ngā Kaitūhono and the NZQA Taupulega external (our Pacific Advisory Group). 

Ngā tikanga mahi aromatawai me ngā tikanga whakaū kounga | Trusted assessment and quality assurance practices

As NZQA supports the delivery of the NCEA Change Programme and RoVE, we are working alongside schools and tertiary providers, providing advice and guidance, while continuing to enforce regulatory requirements where necessary. 

Following a risk-based approach, we will ensure students and learners, communities and industries continue to be well served while the education system undergoes the changes that will allow all learners to meet the demands of a modern digital world. 

Te whakamana i ngā tohu e hāngai ana | Supporting relevant qualifications

The changing environment will also require changes to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), including the addition of microcredentials. As part of RoVE, we are co-creating important changes to the qualifications system with stakeholders that will apply to sub-degree level vocational education qualifications.  

We will continue to address barriers to qualifications recognition and mobility. Our work as part of PACER Plus provides opportunities to share our experience in this area and support Pacific nations. NZQA will continue to work bilaterally and multilaterally to ensure New Zealand qualifications are understood and valued offshore.  

Te manaaki tangata | Supporting our people

As with all organisations, our ways of working have shifted in response to COVID-19. NZQA is using the experience we have gained to adopt a more flexible, fit for purpose work environment. 

We are continuing to invest in the capability we will need to deliver on our vision. This includes modernising the core platforms required to engage effectively with students, schools and tertiary education organisations.  

We look forward to maintaining and extending our work alongside students, learners, schools, tertiary providers and communities during the period covered by this Statement of Intent. 
 
Dr Grant Klinkum 
Chief Executive