Our role as the Code Administrator
NZQA is the Code Administrator of the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).
What we do
As Code Administrator we:
- provide advice and guidance to providers and learners
- approve applications to become a Code Signatory
- monitor provider compliance with the Code.
Sometimes we also need to:
- investigate complaints and referrals about Code breaches
- take appropriate action to address proven breaches by providers.
How we do it
As we quality assure The Code, our approach will include:
- tailoring our approach to suit the different needs and operating environments of providers and learners
- providing capability building activities and developing guidance
- codesigning learner-led workshops to support learners to know The Code.
Related links
Becoming a signatory to the Tertiary and International Learners Code
On this page
Our priorities
The 2024 Code Administration Plan
This plan outlines our approach, priorities and activities
Download the Plan
Engaging with providers and learners
Responding to ongoing provider needs and engaging with learners
Go to our comms toolkit
Building capability
Supporting providers through published guidance, forums, and workshops
Find out about Code workshops
Monitor and review
Supporting self-review and undertaking monitoring and investigations
Using our self-review tool kit
Our key focus areas
We will focus on:
The cornerstones of the Code
- Wellbeing and safety
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Learner voice
- Whole-of-provider approach
Student accommodation
Ensuring student accommodation meets the Code requirements and provides a positive and supportive environment for learners who live there
Building capability
Building capability in areas we know providers and learners are concerned about, including:
- Pastoral care of offshore and workplace-based learners
- Code-appropriate support for learners’ mental health
- International student pastoral care including as borders re-open
Publishing self-review reports (tertiary providers)
Ensuring tertiary providers have published:
- Strategic goals and plans for supporting the wellbeing and safety of learners
- Self-review reports on the quality of learner wellbeing and safety practices
- 2022 complaints and critical incident data in 2023 self-review reports.
Delegation to Universities New Zealand (UNZ)
NZQA expects to delegate some of its monitoring responsibilities to the New Zealand Vice Chancellors Committee (NZVCC) which is currently trading as Universities New Zealand (UNZ).
UNZ will carry out its delegated responsibilities through a sub-delegation to the Committee of University Student Pastoral Care (CUSPaC).
UNZ findings reports
Read the UNZ findings reports below to find out how universities are performing against the Code.
Attestation summary report 2022 (opens in a new window)
Download the report [PDF, 532 KB]
Gap analyses summary report 2021-2022 (opens in a new window)
Download the report [PDF, 411 KB]
Findings report 30 June 2021 (opens in a new window)
Download the report [PDF, 357 KB]