Mathew Vandy, Industry Manager.

As your industry training organisation (ITO), Competenz is working with your industry to review your qualifications. The aim is to develop a simpler, more relevant suite of qualifications that makes it easier for you to grow skills, careers and businesses in the manufacturing industry. This review is known as a ‘Targeted Review of Qualifications’ or TRoQ. Which qualifications are under review? •

National Certificate in Manufacturing (Core Skills) (Level 2) • National Certificate in Manufacturing (Metal and Related Products) (Level 2) • National Certificate in Manufacturing (Metal and Related Products) (Level 3) • National Certificate in Steel Manufacturing with strands in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Oxygen Bodenblasten Maxhutte Process (OBM) (Level 3) • National Certificate in Manufacturing (Metaland Related Products) (Level 4) • Diploma in Manufacturing (Level 5) Following the review, these qualifications will be reduced into a new suite of ‘New Zealand Certificates’.

What stage is the review at?

The industry governance group has confirmed and developed the high-level qualifications needed and are now ready to apply to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for approval to list these qualifications.

First though, a technical advisory group will meet to work through the unit standards that lead to the qualifications and confirm that all content is correct.

The draft qualifications will then be sent out to the manufacturing industry for wider consultation before being submitted in November. It is expected the new qualifications will be ready to launch in quarter one of 2015.

To have your say on the future of New Zealand’s manufacturing qualifications, visit troq.competenz.org.nz or contact Mathew Vandy who’s leading this review on behalf of your industry. Mathew will tell you how you can attend a meeting of our working group or comment on draft documents (e.g. draft training programme and unit standards).