iQAF & QMS Advisory
NZQA’s integrated Quality Assurance Framework (iQAF) went live on 1 January 2026, replacing external evaluation and review with an annual cycle of self-review, reporting and discussion. The obligation has not become lighter; instead, it has become continuous. Providers are now expected to evidence the quality of their delivery, systems and learner outcomes every year, in their own words, and to show what they are doing about what they find.
We work alongside PTEs, TEOs and work-based training organisations to make that cycle manageable: reviewing the quality management system that sits underneath it, preparing the evidence, and getting your people ready for the conversation with NZQA.
QMS Reviews and Gap Analysis
We review your quality management system against current NZQA rules and the expectations of the new framework, and give you a clear picture of where you stand. Our gap analysis covers governance and management, programme delivery, assessment and moderation, learner support and wellbeing, staff capability, complaints and appeals, and records and reporting. You receive a prioritised set of findings including information on what must be addressed, what should be strengthened, and what is already working well, alongside practical recommendations and, where you need them, the revised policies and procedures to close these gaps.
Self-Review Evidence Readiness
An annual self-review summary report is only as good as the evidence and the review culture behind it. We help you build both. This includes establishing a self-review approach that gathers meaningful evidence throughout the year rather than in the fortnight before submission, testing whether your data actually supports the claims you are making, drafting or reviewing your summary report and quality improvement plan, and aligning your Code self-review against the Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice. Where your evidence is thin, we say so and we help you fix it before NZQA does.
Annual Discussion Preparation
The annual discussion is a short conversation with an assigned NZQA self-review evaluator, and it carries real weight. We prepare your team for it: working through the discussion plan, rehearsing how you describe your organisational context, significant changes and improvement priorities, and making sure the people in the room can speak confidently to the evidence behind the report. We can also review the summary record afterwards and help you turn the agreed actions into a plan that will stand up at the six-month check-in.
NZQA Monitoring Support
Self-review is not a monitoring process, and the two are easy to confuse. We provide separate support for monitoring obligations, degree and programme monitoring, annual programme evaluation reports for organisations with self-monitoring status, and any conditions, requests for information or follow-up actions arising from NZQA. Where an issue has been raised, we help you scope a credible response, gather the evidence, and put remedial actions in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is iQAF and how is it different from EER?
The integrated Quality Assurance Framework replaced external evaluation and review from 1 January 2026. Instead of a periodic external review resulting in a category rating, quality assurance now runs on an annual cycle: you complete a self-review, submit a summary report through the NZQA provider portal, meet with an NZQA evaluator to discuss it, and receive a final summary record. Category ratings have been discontinued.
Who does the new framework apply to?
From July 2026 it applies to all non-university tertiary education organisations, including Industry Skills Boards delivering work-based training.
When should we start preparing?
Earlier than most organisations do. Portal access opens around ten weeks before the submission deadline, but the evidence you will rely on is generated across the whole year. Organisations that treat self-review as a continuous activity submit stronger reports and have easier discussions.
Do we need a new QMS, or will our existing one do?
In most cases the existing system is sound and needs realignment rather than replacement. A gap analysis will tell you which it is, and what the work actually involves.
Can you help if NZQA has already raised concerns with us?
Yes. We work with organisations responding to monitoring findings, conditions and requests for information, and can help you scope and evidence a response.