Programme Evaluation and Planning (PEP) Process

PEP timeline

2026 dates	Activity
5 December 2025	2025 PEP template released to Schools. Programme Teams start working on KEQ 2, 3, 4, 5.
9 February 2026	Release the KEQ 1 Educational Performance Indicator (EPI) PEP dashboard (dependent on the TEC release date)
9 February – 10 April*	Programme Teams complete KEQ 1, 2 (in-part) 3, 4, and 5.
3 to 7 April	Easter Break and institute holiday
est 13 April**	Release KEQ 6 survey
by 8 May	APM complete KEQ 6 survey (by due date)
est 11 May**	Release Institutional Graduate Survey Dashboard and any revised EPI data
Late April to 29 May	Complete final PEP for submission to the PC: Update draft PEP with EPI data analysis Update KEQ 2 with Institute Graduate Survey results Progress and set new SMART actions
by 5 June	Submit the PEP to the Programme Committee (due date)
25 May to 19 June	Programme Committee approve and rate PEP Submit approved PEP to Academic Quality Committee

*Recommendation only, aka “a soft deadline”.

**Estimated date only. May change due to combined MIT|Unitec processes. Check back here for updates.

PEP Reporting template

The yearly PEP Reporting templates are distributed into a School folder with a pre-populated cover page in a shared folder via the Evaluation and Review Teams site. Programme teams can complete the template as data becomes available according to the timeline.

Where can I find my programme’s data, targets, and benchmarks?

The data for all KEQ questions will now be available via a dedicated Programme Evaluation Dashboard (linked below). As the data becomes available according to the timelines noted above it will be added to this dashboard for you to access.

This new single Programme Evaluation Dashboard is accessible in a number of ways:

Directly in Power BI under the Academic Quality heading in the side bar.
Via links embedded within the PEP template itself.
Via the following link: Programme Evaluation Dashboard.

As always you will Filter the dashboard to show the data you require for your programme, then snip and paste this into the appropriate KEQ question in the PEP template.

The PEP process retains similarity with previous PEP process by:

requiring a PEP Report only (No interim PEP Report)
having all six KEQs are evaluated
requiring an annual review of the process and outcomes reported to QAB

The 2025 PEP Report retains similarity with the 2024 PEP Report by:

using the existing, style of PEP Report templates, rubrics, dashboards,
taking a staggered approach to completion, aligned to the availability of data
gaining approval by the Programme Committee (PC)

Which programmes are to be reported on?

Schools have been advised of programmes which will be required to undertake a PEP in 2025. A confirmed list of Programmes showing combined programmes into one PEP report and the Lead PEP persons/writers was released prior to the end of November 2025.

Micro-credentials and Training Schemes will no longer be required to complete a standard PEP but will complete an evaluation report using the MIT MCER report template. MC owners will be contacted shortly with the details of this requirement.

What can Schools and programme staff be expected to do?

The PEP process provides autonomy and flexibility for Schools and programmes to own their Āta kōrero | Evaluative conversations process. Programme staff will take key roles in:

Leading and facilitate Āta kōrero | Evaluative conversations (APM or Programme Coordinator)
Note-taking
Providing logistics to fit in with their academic processes and availalbility of staff
Writing the PEP
Consulting about the content of the PEP
Proofing the PEP
Submitting and approving the PEP to their PC for approval

What can you expect from Te Korowai Kahurangi?

Te Korowai Kahurangi will provide support by:

providing PEP process information
providing a PEP report template that includes:
- a pre-populated cover sheet
- Educational Performance Indicator (EPI) Rubrics for all KEQs
- standard paragraphs
- example dashboards
- Capability in Self-Assessment rubric that provides PC the criteria for reviewing the PEP
SQA support to pre-populate SMART goals
APM briefing sessions
purpose-built dashboards to be snipped and pasted into the PEP report template
- EPI dashboards
- Institute Graduate Survey dashboard
- Student Course Survey dashboard
- Student Services dashboard
providing limited ad hoc data requests using an online form BIservices@unitec page
providing capability development :
- refresher for all PC Chairs, particularly new Chairs, promoting good practice in PC self-assessment and their role in kaitiakitanga of quality assurance of programmes
- Refresher for all SQAs on PEP processes.

Why do we complee PEPs?

PEP is led by Manaakitia te Rito, our Te Noho Kotahitanga principles supported by Academic Committee and the Academic Evaluation, Review, and Improvements Policy. In essence the process supports Unitec to manaaki the success of our learners and communities.

The overall purpose of the PEP is four-fold:

monitor and improve performance in delivering positive outcomes for our students and other stakeholders
monitor and improve our ability to reflect on the effectiveness of our actions in doing the above
increase consistency in educational performance and self-assessment across the organisation
report on educational performance and self-assessment capability to our key external stakeholder NZQA

PEP Reports reflect on educational performance and self-assessment capability of programmes, for Key Evaluation Questions and the Tertiary Education Indicators.

The expectation is that programme teams will gather together in a facilitated Āta-kōrero: Evaluative Conversation. It is important that all teaching staff are familiar with the data that informs their programme, successes, challenges, feedback loops, improvement actions and progress in SMART (Specific Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) actions of their programme.

New to PEP and may have heard the term Āta-kōrero (Evaluative Conversation) or a reminder of what it’s all about………

PowerPoint: Preparing for Āta-kōrero (Download from 2019 but very applicable)