In the ever-changing world of higher education, ensuring the quality of assessment activities is crucial for fostering an optimal learning environment. As education evolves to meet the needs of society, it’s vital to carefully examine how students are assessed. This means paying close attention to the quality of the materials used to evaluate students. By doing so, we uphold high academic standards and cultivate a culture where continuous improvement is encouraged in universities and colleges.
In 2024, tertiary education institutions in New Zealand will be given an opportunity to enhance the quality of their assessment activities through a pre-assessment moderation program facilitated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). This initiative, provided at no cost to the tertiary providers, aims to ensure that assessment materials align with NZQA managed unit standards, including those under Māori Qualifications Services or National Qualifications Services systems.
Under this program, tertiary providers are allowed to submit up to three assessment activities for quality assurance, with each activity being based on a single standard. These activities can either pertain to a standalone standard or be part of an integrated assessment conducted in English or te reo Māori. The submission period for these assessment activities spans from January 22, 2024, to March 28, 2024.
The assessment materials submitted must meet all the requirements of the standard and enable students (ākonga) to fulfill those requirements. Additionally, the assessment conditions must be appropriate for the standard being evaluated.
A crucial aspect of the assessment process is the inclusion of a comprehensive assessment schedule. This schedule should clearly outline performance levels corresponding to different levels of achievement as defined by the standard. Furthermore, it should provide examples of ākonga responses that meet the standard’s requirements at each level of achievement.
Following the submission of assessment materials, NZQA will conduct a Tertiary Assessment Materials Quality Assurance process. This involves evaluating the materials and assigning one of two ratings: either “meets the requirements of the standard” or “requires modification.” The assessment report, detailing the outcome of the evaluation, may take up to 30 working days to be completed and sent to the tertiary provider.
In cases where assessment activities require modifications, NZQA will provide feedback to the applicant, explaining the necessary changes. Tertiary providers are then given the opportunity to submit the modified materials for a final quality assurance check.
Upon meeting the standard’s requirements, NZQA will record the result and note it for external moderation, thereby ensuring the integrity and consistency of assessment practices across tertiary education institutions in New Zealand.