Important information

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT POLICY

Approved by: Ben Johnston

Reviewed: August 2022

Next Review: August 2024

1. PURPOSE

Learners must not engage in academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is acting in a way, or attempting to act in a way, or assisting another learner to act in a way which could reasonably be expected to defeat the purpose of a learning experience or an item of assessment or an examination. Plagiarism, cheating, or collusion is evidence of academic misconduct.

2. POLICY

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is to be distinguished from inadequate and/or inappropriate attempts to acknowledge the words, works or ideas of someone else, for example when a learner makes a genuine attempt to reference their work, but has very poor referencing skills. A learner plagiarises if they give the impression that the ideas, words, or work of another person are the ideas, words, or work of the learner.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying any material from books, journals, study notes or tapes, the Web, the work of other learners, or any other source without indicating this by quotation marks or by indentation, italics, or spacing and without acknowledging that source by footnote or citation.
• Rephrasing ideas from books, journals, study notes or tapes, the Web, the work of other learners, or any other source without acknowledging the source of those ideas by footnotes or citations. This could include material copied from a source and acknowledged but presented as the learner’s own paraphrasing.
• Copying unacknowledged passages from textbooks.
• Reusing in whole or in part the work of another learner.
• Obtaining materials from the Web and submitting them, modified or otherwise, as one’s own work.
• Submitting work which is derived in whole or in part from the work of another person, but which has been changed in superficial respects possibly by mechanical or electronic means.

Cheating

A learner cheats if he or she does not abide by the conditions set for a learning experience, item of assessment, or examination.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

• Falsifying data obtained from activities, surveys, or similar activities.
• Copying the answers of another learner in an assessment or allowing another learner to copy answers in an assessment.
• Taking unauthorised materials into an assessment.
• Sitting an assessment for another learner or having another person at an assessment on behalf of a learner.
• Removing an assessment question paper from an assessment room where this is contrary to instructions.
• Being in possession of an assessment paper where this is contrary to instructions.
• Improperly obtaining and using information about an assessment before an assessment.
• Returning an assessment for re-marking after adjusting the answers, claiming that it was not correctly marked.

Collusion

A learner colludes when he or she works without permission with another person or persons to produce work that is then presented as work completed independently by the learner. For work handed in for assessment, the work must be the learner’s own work and not work done by others or with assistance from others. Learners must not seek or accept inappropriate assistance from others and must not offer inappropriate assistance to others.

Collusion includes, but is not limited to:

• Writing the whole or part of an assignment with another person.
• Using the notes of another person to prepare an assignment.
• Using, for an assignment, the resource materials of another person that have been annotated or parts of the text highlighted or underlined by that person.
• Allowing another learner, who must submit an assignment on the same topic, access to one’s own assignment under conditions which would give that other learner an advantage in submitting his or her assignment.
• Be in possession of or use any material that is not intended for learner use, for example, material produced only for the use of directing staff (usually identified by being printed in red ink).
• Be in possession of assessment material other than for its intended use, for example, assessment material in the possession of a learner outside the assessment period.
• Breach copyright regulations applicable to publications.
• Use modems to link their computer to any other computer.
• Exchange passwords between learners for computer-based training.
• Use another learner’s computer without his/her permission.

Dishonesty

Dishonest activities will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action being taken against offending learners. Learners are not to:

• Lie,
• Be evasive in their attitude or actions, or

Disciplinary Action

A breach of any of this policy may result in the offending learner’s removal from the course.

3. RELEVANT COMPLIANCE

Education and Training Act 2020

NZQA Quality Assurance (including External Evaluation and Review (EER)) Rules 2021, KEQ’s 5 & 6

NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2021

NZQA Private Training Establishment Registration Rule 2021

ISO 9001:2015 Section 5.5 and 8.1

4. AUDIENCE

VHNZ staff, learners and trainers.

5. IMPLICATIONS

Academic dishonesty policy will ensure VHNZ:

• Deals with learners fairly and equitably.

6. RELATED PROCEDURES/DOCUMENTS

• Discipline Policy

Trainees are informed of their right to appeal any training or assessment decision they may have concerns about at the start of each course. The appeals process is found at the front of each VHNZ Learner Guide.

VHNZ Appeals Procedure

If any trainee has an issue with any assessment or is unhappy with either the assessment result or process, then they should take the following steps:

• Speak to the assessor at the course stating the reasons for being unhappy. If this does not resolve the matter, then;
• Within 10 working days from the end of your course write to the Chief Operations Officer of Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15030, Tauranga, 3144, stating the reason(s) that you are unhappy.

Your appeal to the Chief Operations Officer must include the following:

• All relevant documentation/information in your possession relating to the appealed situation
• A summary of the reasons for the appeal
• Details of what you believe should happen and what you expect as a result of your appeal
• Any other evidence you think is relevant to your appeal case.

You will then receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your appeal within 10 working days.

The Chief Operations Officer will investigate the situation. Once a decision has been made, you will then be advised of the result with 5 working days.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your appeal you are entitled to make a further appeal to any of the following education authorities:

• The relevant Workforce Development Council
• The principal Training Provider, for example a Polytechnic that may be involved
• Your regional Tertiary Education Commission who is the Government representative.

1. For course and programmes of less than three months duration, notification of cancellation or postponement of training must be made in writing.
2. Confirmed training cancelled or postponed by the client within three to five business days of the course commencement date will be invoiced at 50% of the agreed course fee; training cancelled or postponed by the client within two business days of the course will be invoiced at the full quoted rate plus any associated costs, e.g. accommodation/flights booked, rental vehicles, etc. No cancellation fee is charged if 6 or more working days' notice has been given.

If you feel that you have been unfairly treated or wronged during the course you have the right to make a formal complaint.

To lodge a complaint, you must submit a written statement outlining the circumstances and reasons for the complaint. Your complaint is to be sent to:

Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15-030, TAURANGA 3144

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer will carry out a formal investigation into the circumstances of the complaint, which in turn will be presented to the Senior Leadership Team.

You will then be advised of the results/decision made regarding your complaint and any actions to be taken to resolve the matter.

If you are not happy with the outcome of your complaint, then you have the right to redirect your complaint to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or appropriate Government authority such as:

• Tertiary Education Disputes Registry (TEDR)
• The Tertiary Education Commission

Who can receive the learner’s certificate?

New Zealand law and NZQA rules require the recording of learner identification details and course completions on the learners NZQA Record of Achievement and the release of personal information Privacy Act 2020. As such it is the learner who must receive notification of course completion from VHNZ irrespective of who paid for the training.

VHNZ is aware that the above can be difficult for employer needing proof of learner qualifications for contract. We can inform the employer at the time of course completion but must have the permission of the learner.

“Pursuant to Section 346 (1)(h) of the Education and training Act 2020 the Board of VHNZ wishes to advise that Carl McOnie, a VHNZ Board member, has declared a conflict of interest in that he is also CEO of LandSAR New Zealand a registered PTE.

The Board has advised NZQA and has processes and procedures in place to manage the conflict of interest if or when it arises.”

VHNZ General Liability Certificate 2023 - 2024

VHNZ Professional Indemnity Certificate 2023 -2024

EQUAL EDUCATION POLICY

Authorised: Ben Johnstone
Updated by: Ben Johnstone
Date Issued: Apr 2023
Review Date: Apr 2025

1. PURPOSE

To ensure that VHNZ meets all Education Act requirements regarding equal educational opportunity for prospective and enrolled Learners.

2. EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT OF INTENT

Equal Educational Opportunity is a process to ensure a learning environment that is positive, equitable and free from barriers which might cause or perpetuate inequity in respect to the education of any Learner or groups of Learners at VHNZ.

VHNZ values the community and the industry that it serves; the groups within that community, and each Learner as an individual with dignity and worth, irrespective of the Learner’s ethnicity and cultural background, values, political and religious beliefs, lifestyle, gender, sexual orientation, age, occupation, appearance, disabilities, economic, marital, and social status.

VHNZ will work to identify and eliminate inappropriate aspects of policies, procedures, and regulations which may prevent a person gaining access to, or succeeding in, its education programmes.

VHNZ will adopt policies and strategies which support the institute's commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.

VHNZ will comply with the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1993. This prohibits various types of discrimination in employment matters.

VHNZ will comply with the requirements of the Bill of Rights Act 1990.

VHNZ will comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020.

VHNZ will comply with the requirements of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1996.

VHNZ will comply with the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020.

VHNZ will observe the framework of Kia Orite 2004. The Kia Ōrite Toolkit is a New Zealand code of practice, designed to achieve an inclusive and equitable tertiary learning environment for disabled learners to succeed.

VHNZ acknowledges its commitment to the following:
• Protecting and fostering academic freedom
• Developing and delivering education programmes that meet the vocational needs of underrepresented groups.
• Acknowledging and respecting the multi-cultural diversity and the varying life experiences of the Learner community.
• Using teaching-learning methods appropriate to the Learner group.
• Providing a harassment-free learning environment which affords each Learner a fair and reasonable opportunity of achieving their educational goals.
• Promoting education as a partnership between the Learners and the academic staff and encouraging Learners to participate in the evaluation of their own educational programmes.
• Applying fair, appropriate and disclosed admission criteria, including a process for recognition of prior learning, which are free from discrimination on the grounds of personal or group characteristics irrelevant to the applicant's potential to achieve the planned learning outcomes; and ensuring recruitment and enrolment processes are Learner centred.
• Ensuring that fair and equitable assessment processes occur, which are appropriate to the stated learning outcomes of the course or programme and in accordance with VHNZ policy. This may include providing adapted assessment procedures or tools that allow for greater accessibility.
• Providing a physical environment and the resources required for Learners to pursue the stated learning outcomes, including the provision of support services to meet Learners' language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN) needs. This may include adapting physical environments to provide greater access for Learners.
• Developing, implementing, and resourcing a staff development programme which aims to;
o increase staff knowledge and skills in meeting Learners' LLN needs,
o increase staff knowledge and skills in meeting the needs of learners with disabilities,
o increase staff knowledge and skills in learner-centred teaching strategies that respect the mana and diverse backgrounds of adult learners
o promotes VHNZ Equal Educational Opportunity intent.

3. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

This procedure should be used when a grievance is specific to the terms of the Equal Educational Opportunities intent.
When a potential or current Learner or group of Learners considers that an unfair situation exists, in the first instance an attempt to remedy the situation should follow the appeal and complaints pathway. Please refer to the Student Complaints/Appeals Policy and Procedures. This will be made visible to all prospective and enrolled Learners.

4. RELEVANT COMPLIANCE

Education and Training Act 2020. NZQA Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2021 NZQA Quality Assurance (including External Evaluation and Review (EER)) Rules 2021 Treaty of Waitangi. Human Rights Act 1993. Bill of Rights act 1990. Privacy Act 2020. Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1996. ISO 9001:2015 7.1.4

5. AUDIENCE

VHNZ staff, Learners, and trainers.

6. IMPLICATIONS

It is the policy of VHNZ to fulfil the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020 in regard to equal educational opportunity for prospective and enrolled Learners.

7. RELATED PROCEDURES/DOCUMENT

Students Complaints / Appeals Policy and Procedures
Policy for Identifying and Assisting Students with Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Needs
Learner guidance and support policy

Know-the-Code-v2.pdf

Tertiary-Education-Dispute-Resolution-v2.pdf

Education-Code-of-Practice-Strategic-Plan.pdf

VHNZ PRIVACY ACT 2020 POLICY

Authorised: Bruce Mazengarb
Updated by: Maurice Boyd
Date Issued: December 2022
Review Date: December 2024

1. Purpose/Scope/Rationale

The Privacy Act 2020 seeks to promote and protect individual privacy by providing a framework for protecting an individual’s right to privacy of personal information, including the rights of an individual to access their personal information while recognising that other rights and interests may at times also need to be considered.
This policy seeks to ensure that the principles of the "Privacy Act 2020" are understood and complied with in the operation of VHNZ.

2. Policy

VHNZ is a New Zealand Agency under Section 8(a)(iii) of the Privacy Act 2020. Personal information held by an officer, employee, or member of VHNZ is held by the agency (VHNZ). When information is disclosed by the officer, employee, or member it is deemed to have been disclosed by VHNZ.
Personal information can only be collected for a lawful purpose connected with the function or an activity of VHNZ and the collection of the information is necessary for that purpose. People from whom personal information is collected will be informed of the purpose for collection.

The Chief Executive is the VHNZ Privacy Officer however the task may be specifically delegated. The Privacy Officer is responsible for this policy and its procedures. The Privacy Officer limits access to personal information through delegated authorisations. Personal information is only accessed by people authorised to do so.

VHNZ officers, employees, or members must comply with the principles of the Privacy Act 2020.
All officers, employees, and members of VHNZ will be informed of their obligation to the principles of the Privacy Act 2020:

• On their induction to VHNZ.
• Completion of the VHNZ e-learning Privacy ABC course.
• Through the bi-annual review of this policy.

VHNZ will keep personal information secure. On request, personal information will be provided to the individual to whom the information relates within 10 working days. Records will be amended on request from the person to whom the information relates.

Some external organisations may have legal permission to access information e.g., NZQA, TEC, and WDC’s. Applications from other agencies shall be processed as described in the Privacy Act 2020. Only the Privacy Officer can authorise the release of personal information to any other party e.g., New Zealand Police, New Zealand Transport Authority, other training organisations, etc.

All personal information is destroyed once it is no longer required.

3. Rule of Thumb

The rule of thumb is that all decisions relating to Privacy activities reside with the Privacy Officer.

4. Implications

A well-established Privacy Act policy will ensure that VHNZ adheres to the Privacy Act 2020 when handling personal information.

5. Relevant compliance/documents

Privacy Act 2020
Education and Training Act 2020
Bill of Rights Act 1990
Human Rights Act 1993
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
Treaty of Waitangi
NZQA Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2021
TEC procedures
ISO 9001:2015 7.1.4.

6. Audience

This policy applies to all individual officers, employees, and members (including temporary staff, contracted trainers, etc) who will be advised of, and must comply with this Policy.
Failure to comply with this policy may be regarded as serious misconduct.

7. Related Procedures/documents

Privacy Act 2020 Procedure.
Education and Training Act 2020
Bill of Rights Act 1993
Human Rights Act 1993
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
Treaty of Waitangi
NZQA Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2021
TEC procedures and processes
ISO 9001:2015 7.1.4.
VHNZ Policy and Procedure on documentation processing.
VHNZ Disposal and Retention Policy

If you do not achieve an element of a course, you will be given an opportunity for reassessment.

Trainees who do not meet an objective will be:

1. Informed of the reason(s).
2. Given additional instruction on the aspects where they have not achieved competency.
3. Reassessed in a similar but not identical manner.

No reassessments are programmed for the objectives of the training; however, sufficient time is available during training to conduct reassessments.

Those who pass a reassessment will be credited with a full "Achieved" grade.

Those who do not pass a reassessment will be graded as "Not Achieved" on that module. If time and resources permit, additional reassessment may be conducted at the discretion of the lead trainer, unless otherwise required by the conditions established by a relevant external standard setting body or credentialing agency.

Trainees are informed of their right to have their prior learning and/or their current competency recognised, thus saving them the time and money needed to repeat unnecessary training.

If the trainee wishes to continue with RPL or RCC process with VHNZ they must apply for RPL or RCC in writing (VHNZ RPL RCC Application Form June 2016). They should address their application to the Quality and Compliance Manager of Vertical Horizonz New Zealand, PO Box 15030, Tauranga 3144, or info@verticalhorizonz.co.nz

On approval for RPL/RCC trainees will be required to complete a VHNZ enrolment form and pay the required fee (half the fee for the full course).

VHNZ endeavours to complete a RPL or RCC process within 10 days of receiving the completed enrolment and payment of fee.

The VHNZ RPL and RCC process is limited to VHNZ's approved accreditations. The following general restrictions are noted:

• RPL may not be granted for unit standards that evidence competency for high hazard activities (i.e. working at height, entering a confined space, crane operation, tree felling etc).
• Only full unit standards and all the learning outcomes of a particular course or module will be considered for RPL.
• Only a practical demonstration of competent practice can appropriately assess competency for any skill for an RPL.

Refresher training is training that refreshes the knowledge of the trainee periodically after the initial training has taken place. These refresher periods are used to confirm and enhance an individual's knowledge and update them on any changes within that field.

At VHNZ, certain certificates/unit standards are issued with a ‘recommended refresher date’. Whereas First Aid training is required to be 'refreshed' by law, most training refreshers cannot be enforced but are strongly recommended by Industry.

Refresher Training Important Information:

VHNZ Course Refresher Table

REFRESHER TRAINING

What you need to know:

You must have been assessed against the NZQA unit standards for the course you need refreshed. If you have these unit standards on your NZQA Record of Achievement (ROA), book your refresher course now.

Except for First Aid, VHNZ does not assess against unit standards on refresher courses, therefore we do not report unit standards to NZQA from refresher courses. If you did your last course with VHNZ your unit standards will be on your ROA.

Previous course not with VHNZ?

If you did not do your last course with VHNZ you will need to confirm you hold the unit standard/s you need refreshed by checking your ROA.

Don’t have your ROA

If you have not yet registered to receive your ROA you can register through the NZQA website as follows: NZQA Learner Registration.

Your unit standard hasn’t been awarded?

If you have not had a unit standard awarded, please contact your last provider to arrange registration of the unit standard/s. If you have any issues you can complain to NZQA by submitting a complaints form via the below link: NZQA Complaint Form.

If you need to do a refresher and do not hold a unit standard, you can still do the refresher. Once you have successfully demonstrated the competencies required by the refresher course, you will be issued a refresher certificate. You will not be awarded the unit standard.

You can set up a Trading Account by filling in the following form and emailing it to accounts@vhnz.co.nz
VHNZ Account Application Form

Student fees over $500 for programmes or training schemes of three months duration or more and paid in advance are held in an independently managed Trust Account.

This arrangement has been accepted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority as meeting the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Student Fee Protection Rules 2021.

Domestic students are entitled to a refund if they withdraw from a programme or training scheme of three months duration or more, and the withdrawal occurs up to the end of the eighth day after the start of the course. Withdrawals must be notified in writing. VHNZ may deduct a fee equal to the lesser of 10 percent of the fees paid or $500.