Education Bodies in New Zealand

Institutions in New Zealand enjoy a high degree of academic freedom as they set their own curriculum, appoint teachers and determine their service conditions. They have their own criteria for selecting students and programs of research.

However, strict measures are ensured that the institutions meet the quality standards. Keeping this in view, the Government has set up nationally recognized processes of quality assurance.

These government appointed bodies are responsible for approving qualifications in New Zealand and for the quality that underlines the delivery of qualifications. These bodies are the:

• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA): NZQA approves and registers all courses and national qualifications offered at polytechnics and private training establishments. It also provides accreditation and registration for private training establishments (PTE) including wananga. In order to offer NZQA approved courses a PTE must be a registered provider with NZQA. NZQA also oversees and administers state secondary school qualifications. For details, click here.
• New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC): NZVCC approves all diplomas, undergraduate and graduate. For details on NZVCC, click here.
  
  
• Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITPNZ): ITPNZ is responsible for overseeing  approving all local qualifications offered at polytechnics.
• Association of Colleges of Education in New Zealand (ACENZ): ACENZ is responsible for approving qualifications offered at Colleges of Education in New Zealand.For details on ACENZ, click here.