The MoU, signed in mid-June between English New Zealand and Universities New Zealand, will allow a direct pathway for students between English language and university through the Accredited Pathways Assessment, which students can use as evidence of English proficiency.

“The MoU will go a long way in enabling the long-term growth of the sector”

“This agreement is a significant step forward and combines rigorous quality assurance with pragmatism for the benefit of individual students and for New Zealand’s international education sector as a whole,” said English New Zealand chairman Wayne Dyer.

The newly created APA will be in addition to the requirements English New Zealand requires of its members as well as the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and UNZ chief executive Chris Whelan said the MoU only came after his organisation was certain of its quality.

“The fact that we have signed this MoU is a vote of confidence in the high quality of English New Zealand’s accredited providers,” he said.

English New Zealand’s 22 members currently attract around 20,000 students per year, and the signing is expected to have the dual benefits of encouraging students to continue onto tertiary education and increasing the diversity of the student cohort.

“The MoU will go a long way in enabling the long-term growth of the international education sector,” said Education New Zealand chief executive Grant McPherson.

“This is in perfect alignment with the New Zealand International Education Strategy, with its focus on the sector’s sustainable growth.”

In 2018, NZQA announced non-university tertiary providers would only be allowed to use an “internationally recognised” English test, such as IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.