The agreement, which was signed in late March, will see WES implement a qualification verification service, helping migrants with credentials from overseas transition to New Zealand’s system. 

“WES has been verifying academic credentials for decades, and we’ll leverage this experience to the benefit of New Zealand and our newest residents,” NZQA chief executive Grant Klinkum said. 

WES, which runs as a non-profit helping shape policy and design programs as well as evaluating qualifications, will work with New Zealand’s government on the project as part of a “broader push to strengthen the nation’s economy”. 

The project comes under the name WES Global Record Verification Report, and will “ensure a more efficient process… for those wanting to make New Zealand home”. 

The Report, according to WES, has been specifically designed to “expedite services” for migrants who would qualify for a resident visa under the “skilled migrant” category.

“WES is honoured to partner with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority by offering a WES Global Records Verification Report that will enable migrants to more rapidly join the country’s workforce,” said Esther Benjamin, chief executive officer and executive director of WES. 

“[It] will enable migrants to more rapidly join the country’s workforce”

The new effort by New Zealand’s qualification authority to ease the process for incoming migrants, including international students, comes after it was revealed that the country may be on target to match its 2019 total of $3.7bn injected into the economy from the sector. 

“[Our] experience has taught us how vital verification is for people seeking to contribute their skills to new countries and communities. It has also taught us that migrant talent is critical to supporting economic growth,” Benjamin continued.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority was notably one of the first bodies to formally recognise micro-credentials in 2019.