Expert Advisory Group Releases Keenly Awaited Tertiary Report

The Expert Advisory Group charged by the Minister of Tertiary Education with providing guidance on the design and implementation of a new quality assurance model for the tertiary sector, has produced a report that is a key document for understanding the new evaluative approach.

The Quality Assurance Expert Advisory Group (EAG), established in 2006, including people highly skilled in tertiary education and evaluation, has endorsed the approach to quality assurance that will see on-going self-assessment by tertiary institutions, backed up by periodic external evaluation and review.

The Government’s reform of the tertiary education sector is driven by its top three priorities: economic transformation, families, and building national identity.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is responsible for implementing the overall tertiary education reforms and has commissioned NZQA to lead the development of the quality assurance framework.

Chair of the EAG Professor Gary Hawke says the new tertiary system is a shift away from an audit and input-focused approach to quality, to one that focuses on outcomes, backed up by evidence.

“The EAG is satisfied that the direction of the development to date is in line with good international practice.”

During 2007, the Group focussed on advising on the framework for developing the new quality assurance system. Evaluative self-assessment will begin in tertiary institutions next year, but the framework will not be fully implemented until 2012.

“A key component of self-assessment will be how providers gather and respond to evidence of student outcomes, and teacher effectiveness, as the key influence on student outcomes,” the report says.

It is supportive of NZQA’s and TEC’s commitment to ensuring that the new system is a high trust model, where primary responsibility for the quality of education rests with the providers, not a quality assurance body.

“The report gives us a good solid start, as we and TEC work with the tertiary sector on developing the new evaluative approach to quality assurance”, says NZQA Quality Assurance Deputy Chief Executive Mike Willing.

“These reforms are about developing a new system hand in hand with tertiary institutions.

“We are keen for everyone in the sector to see the report, and soon NZQA and TEC will be starting a range of conversations with workshops and meetings around the country. We’ll also be using electronic messaging and a web-based discussion forum to work with people in the tertiary sector.”

The EAG report points out the need for capability building in regard to the new focus, and NZQA is responding to that need with training, workshops, meetings, and information including case studies on good practices, being planned for the sector.