"I see the next couple of years as a satisfying and productive time for the many people and organisations which were involved in the debates and developments of the nineties. We all are ready for resolution and certainty. I see no reason why this resolution should not be quite rapid. At the Authority, we are determined to see action and to make sure that action is planned and carried out in collaboration with the major players in the education and training scene.

In a sense, setting the strategic priorities for 2000-2001 was not all that problematic. The policies are pretty much accepted. We are now working through the implementation of them.

There will be a broadened framework of nationally assured qualifications and the requirements are generally agreed. Providers and quality assurance bodies have had substantial experience in quality assuring educational programmes and the widespread acceptance of a quality audit approach signals a logical next phase.

I am very pleased that the Authority has the resources to provide just a bit more advice and support. We are well under way in setting up quite specific and practical projects that will have a direct impact on many in the sector.

I have already moved to strengthen links with national interest groups. We value very much the key roles that industry training organisations play in quality assurance. Our association with the Industry Training Federation is very helpful to the Authority. The inter-institutional bodies meeting in April (described in this issue of QA News) will be an important event. We are also developing the ways in which we get input from the private training establishments.

Our Quality Assurance Services unit has employed auditors and the new system will be under way in October. We will be able to offer some support to training establishments and industry training organisations as we move to the audit model.

We have a little more time to prepare for the introduction of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement. But that makes it even more imperative that, with the Ministry of Education, we use the time wisely. We must ensure, as the Minister says, that "every teacher feels supported and confident to undertake the assessments in their classrooms" and that "our operational systems will operate without any glitches".

I am especially pleased that we are about to make another drive to increase Māori participation and expand the availability of assessment in Te Reo Māori . We will be able to offer some support to Māori training establishments and firm up national standards-setting arrangements for Māori skills and knowledge.

There have been many expressions of relief at the news that existing unit standard based National Certificates and Diplomas will remain and that the Qualifications Authority will continue to be at the hub of what has become an absolutely essential element of education and training in New Zealand. Items in each issue of QA News and initiatives emerging from industry training organisations demonstrate the flexibility and impact of the Framework. We are gearing ourselves to maintain and further promote and develop national qualifications.

Internally, the Authority is reviewing its work on unit standards. What was the Framework Development unit has effectively split in two. The registration of unit standards and national qualifications is a quality assurance task and our Quality Assurance Services unit operates as a separate entity. We are setting up a new team to maintain and develop generic standards and national qualifications in areas where there is no industry training organisation.

Maintaining and refining existing activities while developing new ones inevitably puts strain on the staff of the Qualifications Authority. I am grateful for the willingness of staff members to respond so positively to the Authority's new directions."

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