Two Year Diplomas in Engineering

IPENZ has established criteria and processes for the formal recognition of engineering technician education qualifications (two year Diplomas of Engineering). These are described in the
Manual for the Recognition of Engineering Technician Education Qualifications. 

These criteria and processes are consistent with international benchmarks established under the Dublin Accord, to which IPENZ became a provisional signatory in 2006
http://www.ieagreements.com/Dublin/

IPENZ application for full Membership of the Dublin Accord has been delayed by work to reorganise technician education in New Zealand as part of the National Engineering Education Plan (NEEP) project http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/Education_Career/NEEP.cfm

As part of the NEEP project, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics and relevant Industry Training Organisations have developed a unified New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE), which will be delivered for the first time in 2011. The NZDE has majors in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering www.engineer.org.nz

Ownership of the NZDE rests with the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED), which will oversee national processes of moderation and programme review.

IPENZ expects to receive an application for recognition of the NZDE from the Board in 2012 and this would enable a move to full membership of the Dublin Accord in 2013.

In the interim, IPENZ continues to recognise for membership purposes all National or New Zealand Diplomas of Engineering on the basis that these qualifications:

• Have been delivered nationally hence employers can be assured that the competencies of graduates of these diplomas will be substantially equivalent.
• Have been supported by a consortium of polytechnics thereby ensuring that robust quality assurance and national moderation systems are in place.

Available Qualifications

National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied)

InfraTrain New Zealand is now offering a National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) for Civil Engineering Technicians.

The qualification has been developed in partnership with IPENZ and aims to fill the gap left by the New Zealand Certificate of Engineering - Civil (NZCE).

The National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) responds to industry’s preference for a qualification that recognises the practical application of skills. It builds on the theoretical knowledge developed by completing a prerequisite Diploma in Engineering (Civil) at any one of a group of polytechnic providers.

The National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) is an improvement on the old NZCE in several respects.  The applied skills component is more structured and there is a much more rigorous assessment process in place, with all assessors endorsed by IPENZ. There is also better support provided for the learner.

IPENZ has worked closely with InfraTrain to ensure the National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) is closely aligned to national and international competence standards for engineering technicians. As a result, it provides a structured pathway to registration as a Certified Engineering Technician (CertETn) and Associate Membership of IPENZ.

• Download the brochure (445 KB PDF)
• For more information visit the web site
  http://www.infratrain.co.nz/Civil_engineering.htm

Note:  The New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas is working during 2011 to finalise a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP), which would replace the National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied).  Like the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering, the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice will have majors in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering.  It is intended to provide a pathway to CertETn registration and Associate Membership of IPENZ for technicians working in each of these disciplines.