Skill Standards and Qualifications

ITOs have an important role in helping New Zealand industries and the tertiary education system identify and define the skills we need so that we can be successful and productive.

Setting standards for skills

ITOs are the bodies recognised by government (under the Industry Training Act) as the skill standard setting bodies on behalf of industry.

ITOs are continuing to work with industries, employers, workers and education and training professionals to improve the way we define and describe standards for skills.

One of our key challenges is ensuring that the standards we set meet not only the needs of today's work, but prepare our businesses and workers for the challenges of tomorrow's work.

Standards and National Qualifications

ITOs, working with industry and tertiary education organisations (including NZQA), organise skill standards into logical groups which relate to sets of capabilities required for particular jobs, careers and industries.

ITOs work in partnership with the NZ Qualifications Authority to develop and maintain the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

NZQA's web site provides information about the NQF, national standards and qualifications, and a full listing of all existing standards and qualifications.

The skill standards and national qualifications developed by ITOs are publicly available, and are used by a wide range of groups, including schools, polytechnics, and private training establishments, as well as individual firms and workers.

If you are interested in being involved in the development of skill standards and qualifications for your industry, contact the ITO covering your industry.

Other (non-national) qualifications

A key challenge for New Zealand is the large number of other qualifications available in our system, most of them not developed under the leadership of industry.

The large number of such qualifications make it hard for industry, employers and for learners to know what they should be learning, and to build successful careers. ITOs are strong advocates of simplifying the range of qualifications in New Zealand.