Since March 2024, the Entry Level Qualification Development Project (QDP) has been reviewing the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) and the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3). The project aims to simplify these entry-level qualifications, enhance transferability, and create smaller, stackable learning modules. Wānanga and group discussions have emphasised the importance of incorporating mātauranga Māori alongside technical skills to inform qualifications and skill standards.
An advisory group made of industry representatives, providers and schools, supported by a steering group, is leading the review, with the development of skill standards and micro-credentials to follow. The advisory group has provided valuable insights into skills, qualification structures, credits, and Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPOs), with a strong preference for stackable micro-credentials.
Key Steps
- Mapping Skills and Qualification structure draft – July to December 2024
- Advisory group meetings – January - July 2025
- Confirming Qualification structure – January - April 2025
- Public consultation on Qualification drafts – April - May 2025
- Submission of products to NZQA - June 2025
Latest Progress
- Advisory group meetings – July - November 2024
- Prioritising skills at each learning level using the Food and Fibre Skills framework
- Defining qualification structure, credit size and core transferable skills
- Drafting GPOs at each qualification level
The project team is now focused on defining pathways and drafting qualification structure options and GPOs for the working group to consider and provide feedback upon.
Consolidated actions in this project
Develop micro-credentials for targeted skills needs (Fruit)
The Fruit industry is strongly seasonal with time pressures for learners undertaking qualifications. In response, we will develop shorter, targeted training, in the form of micro-credentials, to address targeted skills needs. We are engaging with industry to identify priority areas, such as skills for using emerging technologies.
Support workers to move across the industry and/or industries (Vegetables)
As part of our work to create a framework, and suite of products that maximises flexibility and transferability, we will explore reviewing and developing qualifications that are transferrable across a variety of industries.
For example, it has been suggested that there may be a need for more general skills at level 4 of horticulture qualifications, instead of learners having to choose a strand. This would provide a pathway for learners in regions which are not heavily weighted towards a particular strand to continue study.
Support workers to move across the industry (Support Services)
As part of our work to create a framework, and suite of products, that maximises flexibility and transferability, we will explore reviewing and developing qualifications that are transferrable across a variety of industries.
Work to make qualifications more flexible (Support Services)
The industry has said that the qualifications contain material not required for their role, while other skills are missing. We will work with industry to identify potential areas for improvement, including looking at skills standards and credentials.
Develop meaningful and diverse pathways for ākonga (learners); to attract and retain the food and fibre workforce. (All industries)
In collaboration with key industry and vocational education partners, Muka Tangata is working to build flexible, sustainable, and enduring learning pathways for ākonga as they enter the food and fibre sector through our entry level qualification development project. We will explore the development of qualifications, standards and micro-credentials at Level 2 (and Level 3 where appropriate).
Muka Tangata will collaborate with industry, Māori business, iwi Māori, schools, kura kaupapa Māori, Trades Academies, and employers to explore pathways from senior secondary school to our entry-level qualifications, and to assess the suitability of school standards for this purpose.
We plan to create impactful and practical learning qualifications, micro-credentials and skill standards for rangatahi (young people), offering them an introduction into the food and fibre sector and preparing them for a smooth transition into the workforce.
The project will also be supported by the New Approach to Learner Pathways research which aims to develop a multi-level Food and Fibre Skills Framework. The Entry Level project will enable us to build the initial layer/s of this Framework.
We will work closely with our provider partners and other Workforce Development Councils to support ākonga mobility, promote flexible training, and support informal and non-formal learning.