Appendix 3: Response to the recommendations in this report

New Zealand Qualifications Authority: Monitoring the quality of polytechnic education.

Response by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority in March 2007 to the recommendations in this report

Recommendation 1
Formally review all academic audit reports received from Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality.
Responsibility
Deputy Chief Executive (DCE), Quality Assurance Division (QAD)
Comments
All individual polytechnic ITP Quality audit reports are received from ITP Quality (approximately six each year) by the DCE Quality Assurance.
The reports are peer reviewed by a Quality Assurance Division (QAD) team comprising the DCE, Manager AAA, the three AAA Lead Auditors, and Manager Course Approvals and Accreditation. Any concerns identified within the individual reports will be discussed with ITP Quality.
The Unitec AAA audit report will be included in this peer review process.

Recommendation 2
Prepare a summary of the audit reports received from Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality and the Approvals, Accreditation and Audit group, and report this summary to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Board.
Responsibility
DCE, QAD
Comments
The summary of the peer review including any issues raised with ITP Quality will be reported to the NZQA Board as part of the regular monthly QAD Board report.
An annual formal report is received from ITP Quality in April each year. The NZQA review panel assessment of this report will be formally reported to the NZQA Board at the May Board meeting each year. Any identified issues will be discussed with ITP Quality at the June quarterly review.

Recommendation 3
Hold regular formal meetings with Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality to discuss issues associated with the academic auditing functions.
Responsibility
DCE, QAD
Comments
A quarterly review meeting will be held between ITP Quality and the NZQA audit review panel, to review trends identified from the audit reports and discuss current complaints and issues. Initial meeting scheduled to be held at end of March 2007.
Any identified issues in the annual formal report will be discussed with ITP Quality at the June quarterly review.

Recommendation 4
Require that all audit reports received from Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality contain enough evidence to support audit conclusions that academic standards have been complied with.
Responsibility
DCE, QAD
Comments
The peer review process will also ascertain whether the academic standards have been complied with through supporting evidence being referenced in the audit report. Any concerns identified within the individual reports will be discussed with ITP Quality.

Recommendation 5
Require that Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality audit reports clearly state the reasons for selecting the programmes to be audited.
Responsibility
DCE, QAD
Comments
This will be discussed at the quarterly review meeting held between ITP Quality and the NZQA audit review panel. In addition it will be discussed as part of the annual formal report review at the June quarterly review.