Review of Business Qualifications
Governance Group Minutes
Miramar Golf Club
11 September 2013
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
(across the carpark from the airport terminal)
Wednesday 11 September (9.30am)
Present
Apologies
Graham Dockrill
John West (Chair)
Dave Hodges
Kevin Gaunt
Liz Bowen-Clewley (Chair until 10.30)
Luka Crosbie
Merepaea Manukau
Robyn de Bruin-Judge
Rod Bentham
Steve Harris
Terry Swanson
Victor Goldsmith
For lateness due to weather disruption to
travel:
John West (10.30)
Merepaea Manukau (11.15)
For early departure: Steve Harris (11.30)
Facilitators
Jody Allen
Michel Norrish
1
Karakia
2
The Governance Group welcomed Victor Goldsmith and Dave Hodges as
Governance Group members.
3
The minutes of the meeting on 17 July 2013 were approved without amendment.
There were no matters arising that were not already on the agenda.
4
Action points and risk register were updated and endorsed.
5
Correspondence (inwards and outwards)
- letter to Luka Crosbie, recognising his contribution as Chair in 2012
- “Report to NZQA on quality implications in Business qualifications” from
A Stephenson, Quality New Zealand – NZOQ Inc
Michel to respond to Mr Stephenson about future specialist quality-focused
qualifications, and the distinctions between qualifications and programmes.
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
Review of Business Qualifications
Governance Group Minutes
Miramar Golf Club
11 September 2013
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
(across the carpark from the airport terminal)
6
Members’ interactions with stakeholders:
 Jody reported back from Māori working group hui 28 August, called to explore
MMEQA issues and clarify some issues raised in the evaluation of the NZCB5
Māori and the level 6 strand (including consultation and the link between the
qualification and the strand), in preparation for the specialist Māori working
group hui on 8-9 October. The group restated the need for other specific
qualifications for Māori at levels 3-4 and 6 in a future development, and
discussed the re-development of a needs analysis to support the Māori
qualification and strand.
 Positive feedback and expectations from providers (including Pasifika
providers who have expectations for levels 5-6) and stakeholders.
 Close links with other allied reviews, including ICT (ICT as a tool stream links
with Business Administration and Technology).
 Reported concerns from industry about the relevance and benefits of
mandatory reviews to industry, and about the apparent lack of connectivity
between the various reviews
 Concerns were reported about timeframes for the Business review, with the
new qualifications not being available until 2015, and about the capacity of
quality assurance processes to support the review effectively and in a timely
manner.
 Concerns about expiring standards in Business and effect on limiting choices
for current qualifications, and the possibility of joint ownership of core
standards. It was pointed out that the former issue is being managed by
Qualifications Services business unit in NZQA.
 The Small Business Development Group (SBDG, in the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment) has asked for a briefing on the review at their
next meeting, in November.
7
The consistency management proposal was amended and endorsed for the
working groups and subsequent consultation. It was agreed that this proposal
would include principles to be operationalised later.
Liz will coordinate the drafting of a supporting glossary.
8
Governance Group guidelines for the working groups were endorsed for use in
the further development of the qualifications, and for subsequent consultation
with the sector with the working group outcomes.
GG members to attend the working group sessions:
- core group, 24-25 September: Terry (24th)
- specialist groups, 8-9 October: John, Liz, Luka, Merepaea.
9
Consideration of organisation to take ongoing "lead developer" responsibilities
Rod will draft a proposal for consultation in October.
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
Review of Business Qualifications
Governance Group Minutes
Miramar Golf Club
11 September 2013
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
(across the carpark from the airport terminal)
10
Competitive Manufacturing qualifications
The Governance Group sees value in the Competitive Manufacturing
qualifications as wider than just a manufacturing focus, as applied business skills
with a focus on business improvement.
The Governance Group accepts a proposal from NZQA’s Quality Assurance
Division (QAD) to bring together the Competitive Manufacturing Board and the
Business qualifications review Governance Group to resolve the apparent
impasse. Robyn and Kevin will represent the Governance Group. Michel will
facilitate this through QAD.
11
Project Management qualifications
A submission was received from the Project Management (PM) community for
separate PM qualifications at levels 4-6 for, respectively, PM team members, new
project managers, and experienced project/programme managers.
The submission furthers but does not yet fully justify a need for separate PM
qualification(s). In the discussion, the following points were made:
- The submission differentiates between PM and ‘business as usual’ (BAU) roles
and skills: but the Governance Group queried why the fact that PM builds on
general business skills is not recognised in the submission.
- Managing a project is not the same thing as project management. NZ needs
people to manage projects but not necessarily project management specialists.
- The cores of the proposed Business diplomas can almost all be contextualised
to manage projects. Specialist PM skills and knowledge could be added as a
strand.
- The submission does not link the proposed qualifications with Project
Management Institute’s international qualifications, and the place of a level 6
qualification when most people appear to study for PM degrees is not justified.
Small group of Governance Group members was appointed to consult in person
with PM people to resolve the future of PM qualifications: John, Rod, Luka,
Victor, and Robyn, depending on where the meeting is to be. Michel will
facilitate/organise this meeting.
12
NZCTU qualification
A revised submission was received from NZCTU, and a separate qualification
was endorsed: New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Relations (Level 3).
NZCTU will be asked to develop a strategic purpose statement and pathways in
the context of the other business qualifications. An additional qualifier in the title
is advised to identify the audience: ‘workplace delegate’ or similar.
Thanks to Liz and Steve for furthering this to a successful submission.
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
Review of Business Qualifications
Governance Group Minutes
Miramar Golf Club
11 September 2013
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION
(across the carpark from the airport terminal)
13
Draft plan for further development:
September 11 – Governance Group (GG) meeting
September 24-25 – Core working group
October 8-9 – Specialist working groups
GG assessment of working group outcomes (outside a formal GG meeting)
Email consultation on working group outcomes, consistency management
system, lead developer role. The consultation will help inform the feedback by
articulating the differences between qualifications and programmes.
November 5-6 – GG meeting to endorse for formal consultation
Mid-December – deadline for formal consultation feedback
Mid-January – GG meeting to endorse for submission for listing
End January – GG communicates decision to list to the sector
- submission to list
14
General Business
The GG expressed concern at the widespread apparent misunderstanding about
the relationship between qualifications and programmes, and asked that all
communications include where possible clarifying reference to this relationship.
Foundation review: Rod alerted the Governance Group to Ako Aotearoa
consulting on graduate profiles for foundation education:
http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/communities/foundation-graduate-profiles
15
Next meeting - 5-6 November 2013, to consider working group outcomes in
light of e-mail consultation feedback and endorse the qualifications for formal
consultation.
DRAFT PENDING CONFIRMATION