Conversation
What’s the code about?
A code for the wellbeing and safety of all learners in tertiary education and all international students will be developed this year and be put in place by 1 January 2022. It sets out the expectations that tertiary organisations must meet for learners’ wellbeing and safety.
This code will bring together the current codes for domestic and international learners with separate parts of the code for:
- student accommodation
- tertiary providers enrolling international students
- schools enrolling international students (this part restates existing requirements for schools).
Click the link below to download the full draft document.
Draft Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Students) Code of Practice 2021
Why is the code needed?
The education system in Aotearoa New Zealand is changing. The needs of all learners, their families and communities, and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi are being put first to deliver more equitable benefits for learners.
Currently, there are two sets of codes:
- The interim code of practice for pastoral care which was introduced in 2020 as an urgent response to tragic events involving the death of a learner in a hall of residence
- The code of practice for international students which has been in place for many years.
With the interim code of practice for pastoral care due to expire at the end of 2021, we are using this opportunity to bring the two codes together, incorporate each of their strengths into the new code and use your feedback to inform its final form.
What difference will the new code make?
From 1 January 2022, we expect all tertiary education providers to meet the same clear set of expectations for learners’ wellbeing and safety. They will have flexibility to put in place processes that respond to the needs of their learners and communities.
We are proposing changes for tertiary education providers with international students. We are not proposing changes for schools with international students at this time.
What are some of the proposed changes providers should know about?
This section highlights the changes from the current interim code and international code that providers should be aware of. Click the link below to download the code of practice draft legislation document.
Draft Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Students) Code of Practice 2021
Changes that apply to all tertiary providers (including tertiary signatories) include:
- taking a whole-of-provider approach to set the direction and foundation for provider practices (part 3 of the code of practice draft legislation document)
- strengthening standards for wellbeing and safety (part 4 of the code of practice draft legislation document) by including new requirements and expectations for:
- promoting inclusive and accessible physical and digital learning environments
- supporting learners’ social development and academic progress
- more responsive student services and teaching and learning approaches to meet the diverse needs of the learner population
- training and support for staff (including accommodation staff, security and cleaning staff), and peer support training
- better protections for learners for making complaints and resolving disputes
- better consistency within and across providers (and in student accommodation) for responding to emergency situations.
Changes in practices in tertiary student accommodation (part 5 of the code of practice draft legislation document)
- more detailed requirements for training for accommodation staff
- new requirements for student accommodation ownership details, wellbeing and safety practices, accommodation contracts, and house rules
- clearer links between student accommodation practices and requirements for overall provider wellbeing practices.
Additional requirements for tertiary signatories (part 6 of the code of practice draft legislation document)
- removing duplication and changing wording to combine the interim domestic code and international code.
Requirements for schools enrolling international students (part 7 of the code of practice draft legislation document)
- there are no substantial changes proposed for schools
- the existing requirements for schools are restated in this part.
Read the full discussion document.
Click on the link below to read the full discussion document.
Te oranga me te haumaru ākonga | Learner wellbeing and safety
Click on the link below if you wish to go straight to the survey.
