Student Information Hub
What is the Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice?
The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) supports the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners enrolled with New Zealand education providers. It sets out the requirements that education providers must meet for the wellbeing and safety of their learners.
The Code applies to education providers (registered schools, registered private training establishments, Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga) who:
- Enrol international students,
- Enrol domestic tertiary students, and/or
- Enrol (with a tertiary provider) industry trainees or apprentices.
Know the Code: Tertiary Learners
The Code covers all domestic and international tertiary learners at universities, Te Pūkenga, private training establishments, and wānanga. The Code covers students who are studying online, offshore and/or in workplace-based settings.
For All Students
Under the Code, EmployNZ should be helping you to be:
- Safe, physically, and mentally,
- Respected and accepted for who you are,
- Supported in your learning and wellbeing,
- Connected with your social and cultural networks, and
- able to have your say in decisions about services.
Know the Code: International Learners
Only schools which are signatories to the Code can enrol international school learners. When a school is a signatory to the Code the school must follow all requirements in Code. These requirements protect international school learners and make sure you have a positive education experience which supports your academic achievement/goals.
For International Students
Under the Code, EmployNZ should:
- Help you to be safe, physically and mentally,
- Support you in your learning and wellbeing,
- Connect you with your social and cultural networks, and
- Help you to have a positive experience which supports your academic achievement/goals.
Complaints About Compliance
Tertiary education providers and Code signatories are required to have formal processes for handling learner complaints, and to make sure these processes are accessible to learners. This includes any tertiary student accommodation owned by or operated on behalf of your education provider.
If you (the learner) have a complaint about your provider’s compliance with the Code of Practice, you should try and resolve it by using the internal provider process in the first instance.
If your complaint is not resolved, they can take their complaint to one of the following agencies depending on what your complaint is about.