Accreditation Guidelines for Training Courses offered by Water New Zealand
These guidelines outline the standards and procedures for accrediting Water New Zealand training courses to ensure quality, consistency, and effectiveness. Accreditation may apply to courses developed by external providers as well as those created by our own organisation. Our organisation is committed to endorsing courses that meet high educational and professional standards.
Accreditation Criteria All training courses seeking Water New Zealand accreditation must meet the following criteria:
Course Content
• Must be relevant to the industry and aligned with best practices.
• Learning objectives should be clearly defined.
• Course materials must be accurate, up-to-date, and reviewed at least once every five years.
• All courses must undergo an independent review by subject-matter experts to ensure accuracy and applicability.
Instructional
Design
• Training methods should accommodate different learning styles.
• Assessments should effectively evaluate learners’ understanding and include a final assessment component that directly relates to the learning objectives.
• Learners must achieve a clearly defined pre-set standard in the final assessment.
Learner Support & Accessibility
• Accredited courses must provide appropriate learner support services and wherever possible ensure accessibility for all participants, including those with disabilities or additional needs.
• Course materials and assessments should follow inclusivity best practices to accommodate diverse learning requirements.
Trainer Qualifications
• Course developers must have subject-matter expertise and relevant professional experience.
• Continuing professional development (CPD) for course developers is encouraged.
Delivery Methods
• Courses may be delivered in-person, online, or in a blended format.
• Online courses should incorporate interactive elements for engagement.
• Technical support must be available for digital platforms.
Assessment & Certification
• Courses must include assessments to verify learner competency.
• Certificates of completion should be issued only to those who meet the assessment criteria.
• Accreditation details should be clearly indicated on certificates.
Quality Maintenance for Water New Zealand Developed Courses
• Courses must undergo periodic reviews to ensure continued compliance, including a structured review of course content, delivery, and assessment methods at least once every five years.
• Learner feedback will be actively gathered and analysed to identify areas for improvement.
• The Accreditation Criteria and Process guidelines will be published on the organisation’s website for members to access.
• Organisation members who believe an internally provided course does not comply with these guidelines should submit their concerns to the Training Manager for review.
• If the issue cannot be resolved through initial discussions, the complaint may be escalated to the CEO of Water New Zealand for further consideration.
• While all learners, including non-members, are encouraged to provide feedback, only organisation members have the authority to formally request the review or revocation of a training course’s accreditation.
• The CEO has the ability to request an internal audit at any time to demonstrate ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements and continuous improvement.
Water New Zealand Resolution Process for Learner Complaints and Concerns
• Learners who have concerns regarding a course should first raise them directly with the Training Manager.
• If the concern is not addressed satisfactorily, learners may submit a formal complaint in writing to Water New Zealand via enquiries@waternz.org.nz.
• The complaint will be acknowledged within five working days, and an initial review will be conducted.
• If necessary, an independent panel will be convened to assess the complaint and recommend appropriate actions.
• The complainant will receive a written response outlining the outcome and any corrective measures taken.
• If the learner remains dissatisfied, they may escalate the issue to the CEO of Water New Zealand for further review.
• A final decision will be communicated within a reasonable timeframe, ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the process.
Accreditation Process and Quality Maintenance (for external agencies only)
Course Review by Experts
• Accreditation applies to externally developed courses who wish to show an endorsement by Water New Zealand or have a course featured on the Water New Zealand website.
• Water New Zealand will assess the relevance, accuracy, and effectiveness of course content, instructional design, and assessments.
Training Course Criteria
• What are the skills, outcomes and levels
• Time limit validity
Quality Assurance Evaluation
• The review process will include feedback from industry professionals and educational specialists.
• Additional documentation, pilot testing, or course demonstrations may be required to validate quality and effectiveness.
Ongoing Monitoring & Renewal
• Accredited courses are subject to periodic reviews to ensure continued compliance, including a structured review of course content, delivery, and assessment methods at least once every five years.
• External training providers must submit renewal applications 6 months before accreditation expiry.
• Feedback from learners and course developers will be considered for quality improvements.
• Organisation members who believe an externally provided course does not comply with these guidelines should submit their concerns to the Training Manager for review.
• If the issue cannot be resolved through initial discussions, the complaint may be escalated to the CEO of Water New Zealand for further consideration.
• While all learners, including non-members, are encouraged to provide feedback, only organisation members have the authority to formally request the review or revocation of a training course’s accreditation.
Accreditation Decision
• Accreditation is at the discrepancy of Water New Zealand.
• Courses that meet all quality assurance benchmarks will be accredited for a designated period, normally five years.
• Accredited courses will be publicly listed, normally as an “External Provider” on the training page within the Water New Zealand website and carry the appropriate branding to indicate their endorsement by Water New Zealand.
Compliance & Revocation
• Accredited courses must adhere to appropriate legal and ethical guidelines, including data protection, plagiarism prevention, and inclusivity standards.
• Failure to maintain accreditation standards may result in suspension or revocation.
• Providers will be given notice and an opportunity to rectify deficiencies before revocation.
• Appeals can be submitted to the CEO of Water New Zealand in case of disputes.
Contact Information For inquiries regarding accreditation, application procedures, or compliance requirements, please contact training@waternz.org.nz.
Please complete this application form
Section 1: Applicant Information
• Organisation Name:
• Contact Person:
• Position:
• Email Address:
• Phone Number:
• Organisation Website (if applicable):
• Address:
Section
2:
Course Information
• Course Title:
• Course Duration (hours/days):
• Course Format (In-person/Online/Blended):
• Target Audience:
• Course Objectives:
• Course Description:
• Accreditation Period Requested:
Section
3:
Course Content & Instructional Design
• Provide an outline of the course structure and key topics covered.
• How does the course align with industry best practices?
• Describe the instructional methods used to accommodate different learning styles.
• Explain how learner competency is assessed, including details of the final assessment component.
Section 4: Trainer & Course Developer Information
• List the qualifications and experience of course developers.
Section 5: Delivery Methods & Support
• Explain how learner engagement and interaction are facilitated.
• If online and not hosted by Water New Zealand, describe the platform and technical support available.
Section 6: Assessment & Certification
• Describe the assessment process and criteria for learner competency.
• Provide details of certification issued upon course completion.
• Explain how accreditation details will be displayed on certificates.
Section 7: Quality Assurance & Compliance
• How often is the course content reviewed and updated?
• Describe the process for gathering feedback from learners.
Section 9: Declaration I, the undersigned, confirm that the information provided in this application is accurate and that the course meets the accreditation guidelines set by [Organisation Name].
• Name:
• Position:
• Signature:
• Date:
Submission Instructions Please submit the completed application form and supporting documents to training@waternz.org.nz