New Zealand regulator halts enrolments in Auckland institute’s management master’s programmes

New Zealand’s education regulator has stopped an Auckland-based tertiary institute from enrolling new students in its Master of Management programmes, raising fresh questions about regulatory oversight of private education providers serving international students.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) confirmed that it had issued a compliance notice against ICL Graduate Business School, directing the institute to suspend all new enrolments in its Master of Management programmes until further notice. The authority, however, declined to disclose the reasons behind its action, saying it could not comment on the details while the matter remained under investigation.

"NZQA monitors programmes and non-university tertiary education organisations as part of its regulatory functions, and may have a number of investigations underway at any one time," the regulator said. ICL Graduate Business School confirmed the action but sought to reassure students that those already enrolled would not be affected.

"Current students are not affected and teaching and support for existing students will continue as normal," the institute said in a statement to RNZ. It added that its other programmes, including the Master of Business Informatics, would continue without disruption, with enrolment offers remaining open.

"Our focus is on ensuring students continue to receive a high-quality educational experience while we work through this process with NZQA," the institute said in a statement. Figures from the Tertiary Education Commission show that ICL had around 200 students last year. An NZQA evaluation report published in 2022 had found that nearly all students enrolled at the institution at the time were international students and awarded it the regulator's highest quality rating.

The latest action comes as NZQA steps up regulatory interventions across the country's tertiary education sector. In August, the authority barred Christchurch-based International Culinary Studio from enrolling students in its New Zealand Diploma in Cookery programme. The institute was directed to appoint a suitable third-party assessment partner, subject to NZQA approval, to review and moderate its assessment materials and students' work.

In a separate action, NZQA withdrew accreditation from Imperial College of New Zealand Ltd to deliver the New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Level 6). While the reasons behind the action against ICL Graduate Business School remain undisclosed, the enrolment suspension highlights the regulator's oversight of tertiary providers and its authority to intervene when compliance concerns arise.