The Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) considers academic matters across the university system. These include inter-university course approval and moderation procedures, advice and comment on academic developments, the encouragement of the coherent and balanced development of curricula and the facilitation of cross-crediting between qualifications.
CUAP has consulted with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to determine criteria for validating and monitoring university qualifications and nominates university representatives to occasional working groups convened by the Authority. Its membership includes a student representative.
CUAP is chaired by Professor Pat Walsh, Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University of Wellington.
Sub-Committee on University Entrance
CUAP has established a sub-committee on university entrance to coordinate advice from universities to NZQA to define a common standard of entrance to universities. The sub-committee also provides information on the administration of discretionary entrance, coordinates the evaluation of overseas qualifications presented for the purposes of admission, evaluates university foundation programmes offered by non-university providers in New Zealand, offers policy advice on matters related to the secondary-tertiary interface, and ensures university staff are appropriately involved in curriculum development and examination in the senior secondary school.
The sub-committee is chaired by Professor Dugald Scott, Deputy Chair of CUAP and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University of Wellington.
Handbook
CUAP publishes a handbook, Committee on University Academic Programmes: Functions and Procedures (PDF 884KB), describing the work of the committee, listing its members, offering definitions of qualifications, and outlining procedures to be followed in the submission of material.
CUAP Decisions
CUAP meets in July and November to consider proposals made by the universities for new qualifications or major changes to existing ones. If a decision about a proposal cannot be reached at one of these meetings an amended proposal may be considered at the following meeting, i.e. September or March, or even later if necessary.
CUAP's decisions are available here.
Enquiries
Enquiries about CUAP and its sub-committee on university entrance may be addressed to CUAP.
KiwiQuals, or the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications, is a comprehensive list of all quality assured qualifications in New Zealand. All qualifications offered by the New Zealand universities are included. The Register enables people to find qualifications, obtain information about them and their providers, and to compare basic details of two qualifications at a time on screen.