New Zealand and the Bologna Process

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14 New Zealand ComparabilityWhile other countries in Europe have varying definitions and minimumstudent learning hours for an academic year, there is no requirement in theBologna Process for any minimum student learning hours. New Zealand’ssystem, based on a workload of 120 credits per year, is thus technicallycompatible with ECTS.New Zealand and the European Commission are funding an academicmobility project. This project allows tertiary students to complete part oftheir qualification at a participating European institution. This projectfollows on from a pilot established in 2004. One of that pilot’s objectiveswas to examine the compatibility of credit transfer systems betweenNew Zealand and the European Union. No problems in compatibility havebeen identified to date.TEOs may wish to ensure that credit transfer arrangements currentlymade for European exchange students reflect the comparability of thetwo systems.BOLOGNA TOOLS:DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENTPurposeThe Diploma Supplement aims to assist the recognition of qualifications byproviding information describing the qualification in a standard formatdesigned to be easily understood and straightforward to compare.AboutThe Diploma Supplement is primarily used as a recognition instrument. It isone of the main tools of the Lisbon Recognition Convention. The DiplomaSupplement is a document issued to all students by higher educationinstitutions on the successful completion of any higher educationqualification. It contains information on the nature, level, context, contentand status of the studies that were undertaken and successfully completedby the student. The Diploma Supplement includes a section which explainsthe higher education system in which the qualification was awarded.SignificanceStudents from Europe are increasingly likely to require a DiplomaSupplement as recognition of their studies regardless of the country ofstudy. Institutions in the United Kingdom are in the process of adoptingDiploma Supplements for all graduates. The Australian Federal Governmenthas undertaken a number of pilots aimed at seeking the adoption of aDiploma Supplement by its higher education institutions, promoting it as a‘graduate passport’.
15 IssuesThe Bologna signatory countries committed themselves to the introductionof the Diploma Supplement in 2003. However the 2007 Trends V reportidentified that slightly less than half of the survey’s respondents confirmedthat they issued the Diploma Supplement to all graduating students. Theviews of these respondents suggest that the Diploma Supplement isperceived as a valuable tool for international mobility or the internationallabour market, but with less relevance locally. 6New Zealand ComparabilityNew Zealand’s application to accede to the Lisbon Recognition Conventionwas unanimously approved in June 2007. New Zealand’s Instrument ofAccession was deposited at the end of 2007. The Convention has enteredinto force for New Zealand from 1 February 2008.The Convention requires government to promote the use of a DiplomaSupplement or equivalent by its higher education institutions. The Ministryof Education and New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) haveinitiated a project to investigate the desirability and feasibility ofintroducing a Diploma Supplement or equivalent for New Zealand tertiaryinstitutions.A Diploma Supplement or equivalent for New Zealand is expected to be avaluable tool for international student mobility and international labourmarket access.Further ActionThe ministry and NZQA are consulting with relevant stakeholders throughthe Diploma Supplement Reference Group on what would be involved in thedevelopment and implementation of a Diploma Supplement or equivalentfor New Zealand.TEOs are invited to work with NZQA on this development, and toconsider the ways a Diploma Supplement or equivalent could help theirinstitution’s international strategy.6European Universities Association Trends V (2007) p 43.
Page 3: 3ForewordSince its inception in 199
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New Zealand and the Bologna Process

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