FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS -
EMPLOYERS
The questions we have placed on our website are just some you may have
regarding how the PaMPITO can help you or your organisation. We also describe
some of the help available.
What is an Industry Training Organisation?
An Industry Training Organisation (ITO) is an organisation that is responsible
to an industry to oversee training and qualifications for that industry.
The Plastics & Materials Processing ITO represents all sectors of
plastics, glass container, paint, ink, resin & adhesives, and pharmaceutical
manufacturing.
What is the employer's responsibility?
The method by which a trainee achieves competency in the unit standards
identified in the training agreement is a matter for the employer and
trainee. It is, however, the responsibility of the employer to ensure
that the proposed training and assessment is completed within the agreed
timeframes and that suitably qualified people carry out the assessment
(e.g. by accredited providers or registered assessors). For unit standards
for which the PaMPITO is the Standards Setting Body (SSB) assessors should
be people registered with the PaMPITO.
As an employer what should I do if I decide to introduce on-job training
and assessment related to national qualifications?
- Arrange with us to have a representative visit your company to review
arrangements for on-job training, to provide endorsement of this and
to provide advice on introduction of unit standards based training programmes.
Our checklist, for companies wishing to conduct on-job training, is
available on request.
- Contact us to order Learning Units and Assessment Documents relevant
to your programme and for the availability of Training Providers available
to provide off-job or in-house training. We can make up packages to
suit particular needs of your employees.
- Contact us to arrange for one or more of your staff to be trained
as a workplace assessor.
- Contact us to obtain a current copy of the industry register of accredited
assessors in the industry.
 As
an employer what options for staff training do I have under the national
qualifications system? You can:
- Train staff yourself on-job.
- Have training conducted by an accredited training provider. (You
can negotiate with providers to conduct training when and where you
want it, or we can arrange it for you).
- Have staff undertake distance learning packages (only available for
some unit standards).
- Use a combination of the above.
What preliminary steps need to be taken if I decide to introduce National
Qualifications Framework based training for my company?
- You will need to Hook-on (register) your employees onto the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF).
- You will need to enter into a Training Agreement with them. (Forms
and guidance are available from the ITO) – click
here for forms.
- You will need to register the Training Agreement with the ITO.
TRAINING
COSTS
Who pays for the costs of training?
- The question of who pays for the cost of training is between the employer
and employee.
- The Hook-on fee of $25 is quite often paid by the employee.
- Companies usually fund the costs of training required to meet their
business needs where in-house training is provided.
- The cost of Apprenticeship training is usually provided by the company.
I only want a training provider to conduct training of a few unit standards
that together comprise less than 20 credits. Can I obtain subsidies for
this training?
Yes, provided the training to be undertaken leads to the achievement
of the National Certificate for which the training agreement refers and
that agreement is for 20 or more credits.
APPRENTICESHIPS
What are Modern Apprenticeships?
Modern Apprenticeships, is a tertiary pathway into employment and training
for young people, aged 21 years or under Apprentices will be assigned
their own personal mentor by the ITO, whose job it is to help them succeed
and who will work with the employer to develop a personal training plan
to suit their needs.
What Apprenticeships are available for older employees?
Trade Trainees (Apprentices) are called - Plastics or Glass Technicians
and Plastics or Glass Engineers. There is no age limit for a Trade Trainee.
TRAINING
ASSESSORS:
Who can assess?
Anyone who can meet the prerequisites set by each sector covered
-
- Contact
us to find out about the prerequisites
- Contact us to arrange for one or more of your staff to be trained
as a workplace assessor.
- Contact us to obtain a current copy of the industry register of accredited
assessors in the industry.
TRAINING
PROVIDERS
I am not happy with the quality of training delivered by a training
provider. What can I do about it?
First, you should raise your concerns with the provider and attempt to
resolve the problems. If you cannot solve the problem contact the PaMPITO
with specific details (which we require in writing) and we will formally
investigate the situation where we consider this warranted.
CASE
STUDIES
Are there case studies available that confirm the benefits of unit standards
based assessment?
Yes. Apply to the PaMPITO for example case studies. We can put you in
touch with companies that can brief you on their experiences.
UNIT
STANDARDS
If the existing unit standards or qualifications do not meet my business
needs, how can I change unit standards?
Provide the PaMPITO with details as to your needs. We would welcome your
input and encourage your involvement in panel meetings that review and
revise our standards
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS - EMPLOYEES
How do I get started in this Industry?
- Look in your local newspapers or the National newspapers for job
vacancies.
- Contact your Careers Advisor at School.
- Sometimes vacancies are advertised on notice boards outside companies
or at Polytechnics.
- Pre-employment courses are offered by some polytechnics in the engineering
trades
- Modern Apprenticeships and Scholarships are often available –please
contact the ITO
How do I keep track of the unit standards that I achieve?
All learners who are "Hooked-On" to the Framework have their
assessments recorded on a national database. This entitles them to receive
a personalised Record of Learning which lists all the unit standards for
which they have gained credit. Extra copies of this Record of Learning
may be viewed at any time from the NZQA website: www.nzqa.govt.nz
by using a PIN number supplied by NZQA. If you have misplaced your PIN
number to access your information please contact NZQA.
What have unit standards got to do with qualifications?
A qualification is made up of a package or bundle of unit standards.
The precise detail of which standards make up the PaMPITO qualifications
is decided upon by the industry advisory group working on behalf of each
sector. These unit standards are revised from time to time and in some
cases may be withdrawn and replaced by new unit standards. Replacement
of the units will not affect any assessments and qualifications already
gained.
Who will teach me the skills that are required?
On-Job trainers
These will be people appointed, usually by the company, to train staff
on the job in the unit standards they have knowledge about. They will
be able to provide you with the guidance and resources you will need for
your training.
You and your trainer will decide whether or not you are ready to be assessed
for a unit standard.
To be assessed as competent in a unit standard, you must be proficient
in all the performance criteria in the unit standard.
Off-Job
trainers
These are training organisations, training providers (e.g. polytechnics)
or persons that have been accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications
Authority (NZQA) to deliver training programmes that are unit standards
based.
Such training can be delivered at the provider’s location, at
company locations or anywhere required by the company and agreed to by
the provider.
It can include distance learning programmes as well.
What if I think I already have the knowledge and skill to qualify in
some unit standards?
You may be able to achieve unit standards without further training. There
are assessments documents available for the process unit standards which
means that your assessor will assess those skills you have already acquired.
What is a Training Agreement and what is it used for?
The Training Agreement is a formal agreement between the employer and
each individual trainee that prescribes the unit standards based training
the trainee proposes to undertake during the period covered by the agreement.
It also reflects the employer support for this training. The agreement
identifies the particular unit standards the trainee will endeavour to
achieve.
Do I have to achieve my qualification within a certain timeframe?
No, time is not usually an issue under the new qualifications system.
However, if you are in a Training Agreement with your employer, there
might be some expectations written into it in terms of minimum numbers
of credits over a particular period. This is something you would need
to discuss with your employer.
What is the difference between a National Diploma, National Certificate
and an Industry Certificate?
A National Diploma
A qualification registered as a National Diploma must have a minimum
of 120 credits and is usually registered between level 5 and 7 on the
National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and at least 80 credits at or
above the registered level of the National Diploma.
A
National Certificate
A qualification registered as a National Certificate must have a minimum
of 40 credits at or above the registered level from levels 1-4.
An Industry Certificate
The PaMPITO have developed an industry certificate that recognises achievements
below the national qualifications for the first 20 credits gained.
How do I obtain a National Certificate or the PaMPITO Certificate?
- When all the unit standards required for the qualification have been
registered on the National Qualifications Framework The ITO will apply
for the certificate on your behalf.
- Complete the form and send it with the fee ($15 per qualification)
to NZQA or to the ITO if you would like us to manage the provision of
the certificate for you.
What happens if I change employment while undergoing training towards
a national qualification?
Your training agreement will end and you will need to negotiate with
your new employer to commence a new traineeship to continue the training
you already started.
The questions we have placed on our website are just some you may have
regarding how the PaMPITO can help you or your organisation. We also describe
some of the help available.
If you have any further questions please contact
us or phone (09 263 6098)
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