Targeted Review Qualifications

TRoQ Update #2

Update from the Hairdressing Qualification Review Process

You can download this update HERE

1. You will recall the purpose of the Hairdressing Qualification Review is to:
   • Reduce the proliferation of hairdressing qualifications in New Zealand
   • Make it easier for learners and industry alike to recognise standard qualifications
   • Ensure each qualification is relevant for industry (each qualification should line up with a role in industry as much as that is possible).
2. The qualification review is progressing steadily through its all-party representative advisory panel.
3. Existing qualifications will continue to be recognised, and those learners who are currently partway through their qualifications will be protected.  There will be clear transition arrangements established as we move to the new qualifications.
4. While we haven’t agreed the new qualifications, we are heading towards:
   • Seeking, if at all possible, to have a single set of qualifications that will cover both the apprenticeship and fulltime learning ‘pathways’.
   • Seeking to have a set of qualifications that start at a foundation level (Level 2), move through Salon Support equivalent (Level 3), to Hair skills/Stylist at Level 4, and then onwards to the Advanced qualifications at Level 5 (Training, Management and Advanced Stylist).
   • Maintaining the final units possibly supplemented with further learning units, and possibly packaged as a separate qualification (either Level 4 or Level 5).  This qualification could link with professional membership of the Association, etc.
5. Our next steps are to:
   • Identify and get agreement on the structure of the qualification set, i.e. Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, etc.
   • Draft and agree the strategic purpose statements for each qualification
   • Define the graduate outcomes including the graduate profiles, i.e. what will learners know, be skilled at, and what will they be able to do, i.e. what industry role.
   • Identify learners educational and vocational/employment pathways
   • Complete an industry sector consultation document and test a draft document with a small group of industry for clarity and effectiveness
   • Distribute the consultation document to industry for feedback and qualifications set refinement.
   • Complete and lodge the qualification applications to develop new qualifications with NZQA
6. The overall structure of qualifications and programmes will change.  Learners/industry will benefit from a single set of qualifications.  Within each qualification, providers can develop programmes that meet the qualification criteria, while reflecting their particular (regional) focus.
7. The intended Qualification Review outcome is:
   • Learners are pleased because there is a consistent qualification throughout New Zealand; there are clear and standardised educational and employment pathways, and the qualification is recognised by industry.
   • Industry pleased because; of elimination of qualification proliferation, a more relevant graduate profile, higher completion rates, and higher industry engagement.
   • Providers and ITO pleased because of the qualification and skill standardisation, recognised equivalence between pathways, and greater relevance of qualifications to industry.
   • Sponsors and taxpayers pleased because learner funding will be directed to a more standard, and more suitable learner qualifications for industry, and more flexible educational and vocational pathways for learners. Also pleased because the industry has been able to self manage the rationalisation of the sector’s qualifications
8. There is still a lot to do.  Your (learner/industry/provider) input is welcome at any time either through your representatives on the Advisory and Governance Group or through me as the independent facilitator.  The contact details of the Advisory and Governance Group and Angeline Thornley from NZARH are attached to the bottom of this communication.

From the “Hairdressing Qualification Review Advisory and Governance Group”

TROQ HAIRDRESSING Advisory and Governance Group Members:

* Not on TRoQ A&G