As part of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE), six Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) now have the responsibility to endorse new or redesigned programmes for industry qualifications or equivalent, from 1 June 2022.

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As the industry representative and standards setting body for the creative and cultural sectors, technology, sport and recreation, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council will consider programmes from the perspectives of equity, academic outcome, quality assurance and industry need, while also contributing to an education system that honours te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori–Crown relations.

From 1 June, Programme Endorsement will replace Programme Approval, under the Education and Training Act. Toi Mai will endorse new or redesigned programmes developed by providers which lead to industry qualifications (non-degree vocational programmes). This will need to take place before New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) approval. The letter of endorsement WDCs provide will be required as evidence in the approval application to NZQA.

WDCs and NZQA have been working closely to acknowledge and, where possible, reduce duplication across the respective WDC Programme Endorsement and NZQA Programme Approval processes.

Toi Mai is committed to providing guidance for providers to develop and gain approval for high quality programmes. WDC considerations for programme endorsement aim to meet both industry and learner vocational education and training needs.

Programme developers are encouraged to engage early with Toi Mai to work through the programme endorsement considerations when reviewing and creating new programmes.

Toi Mai will focus on these six considerations:

• Programme content
• Equity for learners
• Programme engagement and consultation
• Te ao Māori
• Pacific languages and learners
• Disabled people

Further information about Programme Endorsement, the application form and FAQs are available here.