2016-Apr 08: Revised Essential Skills in Demand Lists

Visa Pak 254 - Advice for staff about the updated Essential Skills in Demand Lists (included and excluded during revision).

Visa Paks

08 April 2016

Revised Essential Skills in Demand Lists

Revised Essential Skills in Demand (ESID) Lists become effective from 11 April 2016. These changes include the removal of two occupations from the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL), the addition of four occupations to, and the removal of 13 occupations from, the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL). Please refer to previous advice – Changes to the Essential Skills in Demand lists for more information.

A further four occupations in the beef and dairy farming sector (Assistant Herd Manager and Herd Manager) will be removed from the ISSL on 30 May 2016. More information will be provided regarding this closer to the time.
There are a number of changes to the qualifications and work experience requirements for using the lists. These changes include the removal of some obsolete qualifications, addition of new qualifications and clarification of the requirements.
 
Thank you to all the offices that provided suggestions for this review. Office feedback is important in assessing the effectiveness and relevance of these lists.

Further guidance

ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications
The updated LTSSL has removed the wording “relevant to the ANZSCO occupation”. We received feedback that it was difficult to assess which qualifications were relevant to which ANZSCO occupation codes. The updated LTSSL requires that an applicant has one of the listed qualifications to meet the requirements of any of the listed ANZSCO occupations.

Engineering
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) no longer provides specific outcomes for engineering degrees. NZQA will only determine how the qualification aligns with the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF). An applicant who applies for an International Qualifications Assessment will only be provided with the Level under the NZQF to which their qualification is comparable.

The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) has the professional expertise in the engineering field and can assess the content and standard of the qualification, and an applicant’s eligibility to practice the profession in New Zealand. This is reflected in the updated ESID List requirements. The requirement below is now included in the ESID Lists for a number of engineering occupations:

“A qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, with a letter from IPENZ certifying that the degree and any further learning meet the benchmark requirements towards Chartered Professional Engineer professional status in New Zealand.”

Washington Accord
To meet the ESID requirements under the Washington Accord (and now Sydney Accord as discussed below) option, the qualification must be an “accredited undergraduate (initial) engineering degree”.
The Washington Accord covers professional engineering undergraduate degrees. Postgraduate level programs are not covered. Therefore, the qualification must be the applicant’s initial or first qualification in the field at an undergraduate level. See www.ieagreements.org/accords/washington for more information.

Sydney Accord
Flowing from the Washington Accord, a similar Agreement was developed for Engineering Technologists. The Sydney Accord was signed in 2001 and covers Engineering Technology qualifications. This operates in the same way as the Washington Accord. See www.ieagreements.org/Sydney/ for more information on the Sydney Accord.

Further information will be provided regarding the Washington and Sydney Accords in the near future.

If in doubt about any of the qualifications listed under the Accords, please refer to IPENZ directly.

Action
Please discuss with your team(s) and ensure staff are aware of the upcoming ESID changes. These changes will be effective from 11 April 2016.