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Electrotechnology

Phase 1 Skills Framework

Throughout Electrotechnology Phase 1 Skills Framework we’ve collaborated with industry and key stakeholders on a foundational piece of work that will lead to the development of a coherent set of skills standards that recognise core, transferable, and specialist skills. This Framework will be used across the Electrotechnology qualification pathway.

Industry and key stakeholder feedback during Phase 1 of this project has led to four key recommendations:

  • Waihanga Ara Rau can carry out some important work to help ensure a smooth transition to the Industry Skills Board (ISB). This work will also help share and communicate the insights gathered with the ISB on behalf of industry.
  • Further updates to the Electrotechnology Skills Framework to better support future qualification reviews and development. Improving this foundational document will help address many of the opportunities identified for strengthening the qualification pathway.
  • Work with industry and stakeholders to identify the core electrotechnology skills that new starters need. Focus on developing transferable skills and document further details that the Industry Skills Board (ISB) can use in the future.
  • Investigate ways to improve the design of the electrotechnology qualification pathway so it can be more flexible, stay up to date, support specialist skills, and offer options beyond “trade competent” qualifications.

Our Action Plan

i. Further updates to the Electrotechnology Skills Framework will strengthen:

  • the skills required for applying safety practices in the dynamic electrotechnology work environments,
  • valuable foundational conceptual, practical and “soft” skills,
  • understanding, by incorporating the “why” tasks are done in a certain way,
  • the skills required to meet the evolving needs of industry, including those required to integrate digital systems,
  • areas of specialisation within electrotechnology,
  • the transferability of skills across the qualification pathway.

  • Waihanga Ara Rau will gather and present the industry insights collected during Phase 1 in a comprehensive report. This document will highlight key opportunities and recommended actions for the development of skill standards and qualifications across the Electrotechnology qualification pathway.

There are two-unit standards that are Capstone Assessments required for the Electrical Pre-trade and Electrical (Level 4) qualifications. Provision of these assessments is currently the responsibility of Waihanga Ara Rau. Waihanga Ara Rau will:

  • make revisions to the unit standards to allow providers to develop their own assessments.
  • prepare material for these assessments for the ISB to ensure that providers will have access to them when required in 2026.

  • Six qualifications are due for review in 2025. Waihanga Ara Rau will request extensions to the review dates of these qualifications to allow for further work in the design of the electrotechnology qualification pathway to be undertaken.

  • Industry has expressed a priority need to have access to a training pathway that will enable licencing endorsement in the new Supervision licencing class. Waihanga Ara Rau hascommenced immediate development of a NZQA listed micro-credential for supervision of prescribed electrical work that gives effect to the competencies set by the EWRB.· Due to transitioning to ISBs, one of the following priorities will be able to be progressed in 2025. The other has an external dependency that will impact when the work needs to be undertaken.

Progress work towards the development of skill standards for core skills required for ‘new starters’ across Electrotechnology. Skill standards outline:

  • Key learning outcomes aligned with industry expectations, including essential underpinning knowledge alongside the practical requirements.
  • Clear expectations for learning topics to guide training delivery.
  • Important assessment information to ensure consistency and quality of graduates.
  • This will support coherent foundation skill expectations industry needs, while allowing for flexibility in the qualification pathway.

  • Design of the electrotechnology pathway
  • Industry wants the electrotechnology qualification pathway to be flexible, future-focused, and to properly recognise the wide range of specialist skills and knowledge, especially in areas not currently covered. Further investigation is required into how this can be achieved using a coherent set of skill standards as common building blocks in qualifications and micro-credentials in the pathway.

Advanced qualifications

Industry has pointed out the need for training and upskilling options beyond trade-level qualifications. Currently, there aren’t clear pathways for advancing careers. The needs are wide-ranging, from supervision and inspection to design work and progressing toward the NZ Diploma in Engineering. More analysis is needed to understand what formal NZQA credentials are needed beyond trade qualifications.

Waihanga Ara Rau will support two external projects in 2025 to guide further analysis :

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