NZQA research worthless, says university staff
The Association of University Staff (AUS) has labelled as worthless research released yesterday by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority, purporting to show that New Zealanders have what is described as a “middling” level of
confidence in the quality of tertiary education provided.
A telephone survey of 750 New Zealanders aged eighteen years or over conducted by UMR Research, indicated that 36
percent of those surveyed have a positive view of the quality of tertiary education, 36 percent a neutral view and 24
percent a negative view. Few respondents hold strong opinions, with 9 percent saying they have a lot of confidence and
an equal number having “hardly any confidence”.
AUS National President, Professor Nigel Haworth said today that the publication of these results was disappointing and
contributed little to the current debate about the future of the tertiary sector. In particular, the report failed to
define tertiary education or to distinguish between a wide range of tertiary education providers, or the types of
education or the qualifications each provided.
Moreover, Professor Haworth said that public confidence in some areas of the tertiary education sector may have been
undermined because of the politicisiation of some high-profile occurrences incidents over the past few years.
“This new information fails to provide any basis on which to improve quality,” Professor Haworth said. “The report tells
us nothing that can be of use whatsoever in improving and ensuring the quality of tertiary education, and it seems
extraordinary that a public-sector education agency would distribute information of such poor calibre.”
For further information or comment please contact:
Professor Nigel Haworth
AUS National President
Phone (09) 373 7599, extension 85235 (work)
(09) 376 6359 (home)
Mobile 021 637 599
Email n.haworth@auckland.ac.nz
The Association of University Staff of New Zealand
PO Box 11 767, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone +64 4 915 6690 Fax +64 4 915 6699 Email: national.office@aus.ac.nz