USP’s IT Diploma gets NZ recognition

The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Pacific Technical and Further Education (Pacific TAFE)’s Diploma in Information Technology (IT) has received recognition from Skills International New Zealand.

 Skills International NZ is the largest employer body in New Zealand that advises accredited industry standards to NZQA.

This means that this programme is comparable to New Zealand Qualification Authority’s (NZQA) relevant Diploma in IT.

Director Pacific TAFE, Mr Hasmukh Lal said, “This is yet another achievement for Pacific TAFE in terms of international validation.”

“It is a strong signal to the employers that our work ready IT students graduate with an internationally comparable qualification. This is the fifth achievement on the external validation of Pacific TAFE’s quality which expands USP brand equity added Mr. Lal.”

In a letter to Mr Lal, Ms Bridget Dennis, the General Manager Skills International Limited, said Pacific TAFE’s programmes offer a range of education and training programmes that implement robust quality assurance measures.

“These help to validate and endorse the Pacific TAFE’s programmes for equivalence to the closest New Zealand nationally recognised qualification, as per NZQA standards, once official alignment exercises have been completed,” Ms Dennis said.

“Skills International Limited would like to congratulate Pacific TAFE on the successful completion of the first alignment,” she noted.

The letter also officially confirmed that there is direct alignment between Pacific TAFE’s Diploma in IT (Level 5) and the New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology – Support (Level 5).