Cook Islands Department Of National Human Resources Development

National Qualification Framework

The National Qualification Framework (NQF) has been set up to create a national qualification system that integrates industry training, secondary and tertiary education. It is administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) which in turn is guided by each industry.

The NQF is designed to simplify New Zealand’s very wide range of existing qualification, open up pathways for learning and promote lifelong learning. It means skills learned in the workplace are recognised alongside those gained through more formal education, and that people who already have these skills can gain recognition without going back to school.

Key Features of Standards

· They group skills and knowledge that are needed in industry, in ways that make sense to the industry
· They have been developed and set by industry after wide consultation
· They set national standards for the performance of the skills they contain
· Each standard belongs to one of the NQF’s ten levels. Level 1 standards relate to entry level learning, which is broadly equivalent to Form 5. Level 8 relates to the most advanced learning, such as postgraduate university degrees.
· Each standard has a credit value. The credit value of each standard depends upon the average time it takes to complete the unit standard. One credit is approximately 10 to 12 hours of learning
· The ITOs and criteria – setting bodies (CSB) use these levels and credits when they design their national qualifications. These qualifications are made up of combinations of unit standards. They are able to choose from any unit standards on the framework to make up the qualification, and not just those that they have developed themselves.

· The qualifications may include standards ‘borrowed’ from other industries as well as ‘generic’ standards which apply across a range of industries. This means that the same unit standards may be found in quite different qualifications

 

 

What are the levels and credits

The level of each unit shows the level of difficulty of the units—Level one is the easiest level (see diagram above)
Each unit has a credit value that gives an idea of how long it will take to complete the unit.
One credit is equal to approximately 10 hours of study. Some people may take longer. Others just need to refresh their existing knowledge by reading through the learning materials and then complete the assessment. Everyone has different learning needs and it is up to you to choose what you need to achieve.
What are Unit Standards

Unit standards are the building blocks of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and are grouped together to make qualifications like the National Certificate in Automotive Engineering. They can also be studied as individual units to develop specific skills through the Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institutes Workplace Skills programme.

Each unit standard requires students to show that they can do specific tasks in a subject or work area before they can gain credit for that unit.

Select a programme that suits your qualification or experience then progress to a higher level to achieve your goals. You can do this at the Trade Training Centre Te Puna o te Kite Karape (TTC), Hospitality Tourism Training Centre Te Puna Apii Turoto (HTTC)- and other providers accredited to ACITI.