Providers and partners

Diplomas, degrees and related qualifications monitoring

NZQA will monitor all programmes of study at level 7 and above, other than those leading to NZ qualifications listed on the NZQF.

The purpose of monitoring

The purpose of monitoring these programmes of study is to provide assurance to NZQA and stakeholders that a programme and its delivery continue to meet the criteria for ongoing approval and accreditation.

Monitoring by NZQA is not intended to replace the actions taken by institutions to monitor, review and regularly improve the quality of the programmes for which they are responsible.

Guidelines and templates

The Guidelines for monitoring programmes leading to diplomas,degrees and related qualifications at levels 7 to 10 (PDF, 339KB) provide detailed information about the process.

Monitors will use the degree monitoring report template (DOCX, 99KB) to prepare the monitoring report.

Report template for teaching degrees

To monitor Initial Teacher Education [ITE] degrees that lead to registration as teachers by the Teaching Council, NZQA and the Council have developed a monitoring report template (DOCX, 203KB).

This template reflects both the relevant NZQA Rules and the Council’s ITE Programme Approval, Monitoring and Review Requirements.

Monitoring outcomes

If the monitoring process highlights any major concerns, NZQA may request that the institution takes appropriate steps to address the concerns.

If NZQA continues to have serious or ongoing concerns about the quality and/or stability of a programme or its delivery, it may initiate the procedure to withdraw an institution’s accreditation to deliver the programme.

If the programme and its delivery are stable, the institution will be able to request self-monitoring.

Initial monitoring

When a programme is approved and an institution has accreditation to deliver it, NZQA appoints a monitor.

Monitor's responsibilities

The monitor is responsible for:

coordinating the timing of the visit with the institution at least two months before the proposed date
conducting the monitoring visit to the institution
providing a draft monitoring report no later than ten working days after the visit to NZQA. NZQA will then seek confirmation of the factual accuracy of the draft report from the institution.
raising any issues with NZQA which may have an impact on the monitoring process or outcome.

An NZQA evaluator may accompany the NZQA monitor for the first monitoring visit.

NZQA evaluator's role

The role of the NZQA evaluator, if accompanying the monitor is to:

inform the monitor of NZQA’s expectations and processes
provide neutral and experienced management of the monitoring visit
when necessary, provide a link between the approval and/or accreditation of the programme.

What happens next?

Once NZQA has received the institution's feedback on the factual accuracy of the draft report, it will amend if appropriate and formally issue the full report to the institution.

Self monitoring

The monitor may recommend that an institution requests from NZQA that their programme is set to self-monitoring. This occurs when the monitor considers that a programme and its delivery are stable, and that all conditions for changing its monitoring status are met.

Self-monitoring involves external monitoring and the provision of an Annual Programme Evaluation Report (APER) to NZQA.

Submitting an APER

The institution is responsible for carrying out a review process each year and sending a copy of the APER to NZQA by 30 June.

Costs for degrees and related qualifications monitoring

Charges associated with programmes monitoring must be met by the institution delivering the programme. Costs will be charged on completion of the monitoring.

Further information

For more information and/or enquiries on monitoring programmes of study that lead to degrees and related qualifications, please email DegreeMonitoring@nzqa.govt.nz