TEC ACE Quality Assurance
To receive TEC funding from 2008, ACE providers will need to demonstrate commitment to meeting the ACE QA arrangements. The purpose of quality assurance is to help ACE organisations be more responsive to their communities and learners needs, enhance the quality of the ACE they deliver and foster continuous improvement. Implementing QA will also assist providers to align their provision with the ACE priorities.
The Tertiary Education Commission, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), the Education Review Office and other quality assurance bodies are working closely together to support ACE providers with the implementation of the QA arrangements.
NZQA is leading the quality assurance function, and during 2004 worked collaboratively with the sector to design, develop and trial the QA arrangements. The arrangements were published in April 2005.
The TEC is leading the quality support and capacity building functions. A range of support services have been developed and include:
- introductory training;
- supplementary funding to help schools, Rural Education Activities Programmes and some other providers implement QA
- Leading the Way: Arahina Whakamua, an ACE quality assurance resource kit including the Quality in Action guide for ACE providers, templates and other resources; and
- ongoing assistance to TEC ACE networks.
The TEC has also set up an email address to help answer all your queries about quality assurance. It is: aceqahelp@tec.govt.nz.