Choosing quality learning provider
Over recent years numerous NZ private learning providers have been shut down after fraud investigations from Inland Revenue or quality audits by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Linguis International, for example, with campuses in Auckland and Christchurch, recently lost its registration when NZQA found high rates of plagiarism staff had not addressed.
Every year hundreds of students – many from overseas - lose out. They are financially disadvantaged and also suffer emotional stress as a result of being let down by an organisation they had trusted.
As a teacher, I’m passionate about the transformative nature of learning. Seeing students growing in confidence as they build their knowledge and understanding is the most rewarding aspect of my job.
And as technology develops, changes in the workplace inevitably place more pressure upon all of us to continue our training and adapt.
Globally, the education marketplace has responded to this need for lifelong learning.
Online and vocational courses (often advertised as free) are part of a rapidly expanding multi-billion dollar industry.
Unfortunately, the marketing tricks used to grab a share of profitable business have also grown at an astounding rate.
My own expertise is in researching and raising awareness of ways that education institutions can deliver quality education in a fair and transparent way.
So I amangered and disturbed when some unscrupulous learning providers take advantage of students who may be naive about the use of underhand tactics.
Many private training providers (PTEs) advertise how their successful courses attract hundreds of students each year.
But is there evidence to support these claims? Glossy brochures and slick websites make attractive reading for prospective students.
However, it pays to look beneath the surface; a little research is always a good investment.
Here are my three main recommendations:
Every PTE must be registered with NZQA to develop, deliver or use any qualifications from the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
A quick check on NZQA’s website will provide full information about the PTE.
You can also download the latest External Evaluation and Review (EER) report for each institution.
PTEs are graded into 4 categories (1= highly confident of the educational performance, 4 = least confident).
You can also phone NZQA directly if you need advice. Talk to the staff and students. Unlike school-teachers, there are no formal requirements for teachers in PTEs, so if there’s a campus, it’s a good idea to visit and perhaps sit in on a lesson.
If the course is only online, be wary of taking at face value the glowing comments on the PTE’s Facebook pages, often these are strictly moderated to remove any criticism.
Ask to be put in touch with past and current students.
Any PTE that has quality as a top priority will have a pricing structure that balances the needs of students against the demands of delivery.
If pricing is full of special offers and other gimmicks to encourage you to enrol quickly, alarm bells should start ringing.
Following these recommendations will help you to choose a good quality PTE which delivers valuable qualifications, whether your learning is a stepping-stone towards a new or more successful career, or perhaps just for fun.
-Dr Ursula Edgington is an independent researcher, educator, consultant from Cambridge.