NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON COMPUTING QUALIFICATIONS

Background

The National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications (NACCQ) was founded in 1988 as a result of a review of the national qualifications in data processing and information technology.

The NACCQ sector includes the information and communication technologies departments of all polytechnics, institutes of technology and selected universities in the country. The executive committee consists of elected representatives of the academic sector and a strong representation from the information and communication technologies industry. This structure reinforces the goals of the NACCQ to work hand in hand with industry to develop and deliver current marketable qualifications that are industry focussed and to ensure that students are work ready when they graduate.

The National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications is set up to:

To offer support and advice to ITP NZ and the NACCQ sector in relation to the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To negotiate with the appropriate Government agencies on issues relating to the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To co-ordinate information relating to the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To promote the teaching, learning, research and development in the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To co-ordinate the partnership of Industry and the NACCQ sector in the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To maintain a high quality of graduates for industry in the field of Computing and Information Technology.

To contribute (on behalf of the NACCQ sector) to the development of prescriptions for vocational computing and information technology courses in New Zealand.

To contribute (on behalf of the NACCQ sector) to the maintenance of the relevance of developed courses to meet the changing requirements of the New Zealand Computer and Information Technology industry by suggesting timely changes to course prescriptions in response to industry developments. A full review of all programmes to be carried out at least every two years

To provide a central support for training providers offering these programmes.

To liaise with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and other relevant national bodies (e.g the New Zealand Computer Society) over national issues relating to these courses (e.g course approval, accreditation, moderation, assessment, professional registration, etc) in conjunction with ITP NZ.

To support the availability of a full range of vertically integrated vocational computing qualifications for New Zealand.

To ensure cooperation and effective communication between industry and training providers is achieved.

To offer guidance and advice on programme management.

To co-ordinate the development of resources for the use of academic staff.

To encourage national and international recognition of the qualifications.