National Engineering Education Plan (NEEP) Project

This project is a collaborative research and development venture between all major participants and stakeholders¹ in the New Zealand engineering education sector. It seeks to develop a coherent national plan for ensuring that the right number of the right types of graduate is produced to meet New Zealand’s needs.

Within the project, there are five workstreams:

1. Career Progression Models have been developed for graduates of technician, technologist and professional engineer qualifications and for people with trades qualifications. Both models show progression through technical routes and supervisory/managerial routes.
   Click here for the career model.
   Click here for the trades model.
    
2. The Project Consortium estimates the likely future demand for and supply of engineers using two scenarios: “business as usual” which is based on historical patterns and the “innovation-led economy” which is based on increased participation by engineers in building innovation-led businesses.
   Click here for the Statement on the Demand for and Supply of Engineers.
    
3. Work is underway to review the qualifications for the professional engineers, engineering technologists and technicians:
• Bachelor of Engineering - In respect of professional engineer tertiary education, the goal is to define the qualification that will ensure continued adherence to international best practice whilst meeting the needs of New Zealand industry. Click here for the outcomes of the consultation held in September 2009 and an outline of the work in progress to define the gaps between the current BE programmes accredited to the old IPENZ standard and the new Washington Accord graduate profile exemplar.
   
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology – the four providers offering BEngTechs are working more closely together to provide clear cross-crediting arrangements between the degrees.
   
• The Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics and relevant Industry Training Organisations have jointly explored the possibility of a unified diploma system in engineering education for technicians with industry and stakeholders. During the consultation in September 2009, there was unanimous support for such a system to be developed. Work is underway by groups of providers and ITOs to develop an academic diploma - New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) and a work-based diploma – New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP). The first step is to develop the NZDE with the aim of having it approved by NZQA and providers accredited to deliver it in 2011.

Consultation Meetings to discuss the NZDE and NZDEP were held nationally in May and June. Click here for the presentation. Click here for a summary of the outcomes from consultation with industry, providers and Industry Training Organisations.

4. The Ministry of Education has a project underway to align the NCEA Level 1 Technology Standards in senior secondary school with the New Zealand Curriculum. Consultation on these standards closed on 28 May 2010. Click here for a copy of the submission sent to the Ministry of Education on behalf of end-users of Technology Education.
    
5. The NEEP Project consortium has reviewed the factors affecting the success of minority groups (Maori, Pasifika and women) in engineering education and made recommendations to address the issues identified. Click here for the report on Minority Groups in Engineering Education

The project is due for completion in September 2010.