Report on Review of the Education Code of Practice 2021

October 2022

It is our top priority to look after our students. Laidlaw College is dedicated to offering learning environments that are enjoyable, safe and secure for all our students and staff. 

Under the Education and Training Act 2020, the Ministry of Education has released the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. The new Code, in place from 1 January 2022, combines the existing 2020 Interim Domestic Code and 2019 International Code.

The new Code sets clear expectations for learner safety and well-being in tertiary education and has 24 outcomes. Twelve of those outcomes are relevant to universities. Outcomes 1-7 apply to all tertiary learners (students) and Outcomes 8-12 apply to international learners (students).

ALL TERTIARY LEARNERS (DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL) 1. A learner well-being and safety system 2. Learner voice 3. Safe, inclusive, supportive and accessible physical and digital learning environments 4. Learners are safe and well 5. A positive, supportive and inclusive environment in student accommodation 6. Accommodation, administrative practices and contracts 7. Student accommodation facilities and services

INTERNATIONAL TERTIARY LEARNERS 1. Responding to the distinct well-being and safety needs of international tertiary learners 2. Prospective international tertiary learners are well informed 3. Offer, enrolment, contracts, insurance and visa 4. International learners receive appropriate orientations, information and advice 5. Safety and appropriate supervision of international tertiary learners. See the NZQA information guide for more details.

Laidlaw College is dedicated to creating an exceptional learning experience and dedicates targeted support for students to develop personally, socially, and culturally throughout their time with us. Our Student Support team is focused on student safety, health, and well-being to enhance the student experience, which is consistent with Laidlaw College’s values.

SUMMARY

Laidlaw has excellent relationships with its students that are meaningful and respectful and focused on developing the individual student as a person for their intended study goals. Laidlaw plans and resources its student-facing services, and understands students well at a cohort and individual level across the different programmes Laidlaw offers. This strong focus on student safety and well-being is mainly due to 

• the clear pastoral mission developed over time from the original founding vision, 
• being a community-based organisation that is not-for-profit
• being a faith-based organisation that is intent on implementing the Christian principles it lives by
• the capability built into Laidlaw through good governing members and the Senior Leadership Team over the years focused on developing student agency and engaging with the learner's voice
• the solid development of adult education principles and practice, deliberately bringing students into a community of learning as well as a community of practice. 

This 2022 self-review process has been focused on ensuring compliance with the Combined Code of Practice introduced in December 2021. The review has included 

• The gap analysis and action plan from 2020’s interim code
• The 2021 report to the SLT from Student Services & Student Dean.
• Engaging QED Associates for a targeted review of our documentation and practice
• Reviewing our evidence of pastoral care practice that aligns with the 2021 combined code.
• Ensuring that the attestation can be done accurately by the 1^st November 2022 due date.
• Drafting an action plan to highlight areas that need development for ongoing good practice and/or compliance. 

Because pastoral care is built into the student experience, and Laidlaw staff take care to use what is learnt from student feedback, Laidlaw doesn’t get many complaints or have any ongoing issues around student safety and wellbeing. As well as that, there are currently very few students in accommodation, and very few international students, and Laidlaw understands their needs well and ensures that they are well met. 

There are minor differences between the previous two Codes of Practice that have been combined Code from 2021, specifically for International students (first introduced in 2013) and for Domestic students (introduced in 2019).

The first four outcomes of the combined code sum up the intended impact: 

• A whole of organisation approach to achieving strategic safety and well-being goals 
• Engaging students in decision-making about student safety and wellbeing 
• Safe spaces online and in person
• The actual experience of a safe community of learning for students.

The safety and well-being strategic goals recommended for 2022-25 are:

• Students feel safe and well in the Laidlaw community of learning
• All remaining student accommodations is safely phased out by November 2023
• International students are safely and well supported in their Laidlaw experience.

View the Self Review Attestation PDF here

• 2022 Self Review Attestation