IT - Qualifications

markkellaway · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:32 pm Post subject: IT - Qualifications

Hi,

I'll be visiting NZ (leave on Monday next week!!) for a good look and hopefully to meet with potential employers in Christchurch. I have a degree in IT so thought that I fulfilled this from the POL:

"Minimum of 5 years full-time work experience in a relevant area of expertise AND completion of a recognised programme of formal training in that area".

I had an email from a consultant yesterday that says:

"Unfortunately, while you may have a specialisation on there, it is a requirement that as well as a degree, you have a recognised training qualification in the specialisation you apply under. "

Does anyone know where I can obtain a list of these training qualifications, and if indeed they are required? The NZQA site indicates that they won't be able to ratify courses that are less than a year full time study or equivalent, a hell of a long time for a "professional" qualification in IT!!

If anyone can shed light on this I'd be most grateful, this was a bit of a "kick in the guts" to me last night when I should be getting excited about next weeks visit!! Confused

Regards, and thanks to everyone for this great resource! Clapping

Mark.

Graham Barnes · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject: NZQA

Hi Mark

I have just finished a course which took me 6 months, and the NZQA were fine with it.

It wasn't IT...rather a flexible PGCE from the Open University (teaching education qualification). The full course takes a year, but takes into past teaching experience so you don't have to take the whole course necessarily. It was a bit of a gample because NZQA said that this would not be a problem in principle, as long as the initial assessment procedure was rigorous enough; but of course they won't give a proper assessment until after you complete it! In effect, you achieve the same course outcomes although you don't need the full training. I thought this showed remarkable common sense from a government bureacracy Clapping

, but it is quite subjective and so might depend on your particular case officer.
It is definetely worth phoning them up because I learned far more from talking to their liaison officers than I could glean from their website info.

Good luck!
Graham

markkellaway · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 11:10 pm Post subject:

Hi Graham,

Thanks for the reply. My problem is that IT courses tend to be very short lived, you can for example get an MCSE in a week if you pay. I understand the requirement for a PGCE as it is needed for teaching, and is a significant qualification in itself. I am unsure how I find out what I need to fulfil the NZIS requirements so that I can use a job (with an offer of course!) on the POL in my visa or residency application, there seems to be no list of acceptable IT qualifications.

Regards,

Mark.

Graham Barnes · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 11:58 pm Post subject:

Just an idea...

Have you tried phoning or e-mailing NZQA to ask them which UK IT qualifications are deemed equivalent to NZ ones? They use a 'grid' which gives them a starting point for comparing qualifications before they start looking at the details, so they certainly have lists of overseas quals but they just do not publish them.
Mind you, I'm not convinced by how thorough they are; I sent reams of paperwork off for my PGCE and university degree, and it took them two days! For £250, I got a single A4 sheet which I could have written myself! But I have also heard some horror stories about nit-picking they can be; if you don't follow their instructions to the letter, long delays can ensue.
I think your best bet is to speak to someone at NZQA who deals with IT qualifications. I can give the e-mail address/phone number of the liaison officer I contacted on a number of occasions last year, and found her very helpful indeed. If needs be, she will be able to pass you onto an evaluations officer who deals with IT qualifications.

Regarding NZIS, they have a list of approved universities whose qualifications they accept for immigration purposes. Could you get a job on the General Work category (i.e. not POL) work visa without an additional qualification? An employer might need to order a labour survey check, but as it is a general shortage area, they might be able to argue a case for taking you on?

Graham