Tertiary Education Commission
Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua
National Office
44 The Terrace
PO Box 27048
Wellington, New Zealand
Contents
Part one: Summary of Audit Results
4
Overall recommendation
4
Audit Ratings
4
Key findings and recommendations
4
Part two: Key findings and recommendations
5
Part three: Other Audit Findings
12
Financial Viability Assessment
12
Minimum Prudential Financial Standards
12
Part four: Audit Process Overview
14
Purpose of the audit
14
Scope of the audit
14
Overview of Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Educational Centre
15
Audit process overview
15
Part five: TEO Corrective Actions
16
Corrective Actions
16
Part three: Other Audit Findings
Further findings of the audit are set out below.
Financial Viability Assessment
8091-Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre Trust
Minimum
Prudential
Risk assessment
Financial
(Based on your financial statements for the years shown)
Standards s9(2)(b)(ii)
The PTE was first funded by the TEC in 2020. TOPEC’s financial year end is 31 December. The 2020 financial
reports and 2021 forecast were due on 31 May 2021. The PTE applied for an extension to 30 June 2021
because their auditors had advised they would be unable to complete the audit by the due date. The TEC
received the reports on 30 June 2021.
s9(2)(b)(ii)
The PTE receives Student Achievement Component Level 3 and above funding and Fees-free Payments
from the TEC.
Excluding Fees-free Payments, the TEC funded $128,095 in 2020 (including a debt write-off of $74,758 for
under-delivery funded under the Government Funding Guarantee) for 8.1 TEC-funded EFTS. The
organisation is funded $130,145 for 20 EFTS in 2021.
The April SDR shows 2021 delivery is tracking at 10.5 SAC3+ EFTS. This is up on the 7.3 EFTS in the April
2020 SDR (and the 8.1 EFTS delivered in 2020).
Part four: Audit Process Overview
Purpose of the audit
The purpose of the audit was to provide assurance that your organisation is complying with the
Education and Training Act 2020 and conditions imposed on your funding. This audit is part of our ongoing
monitoring of tertiary education organisations (TEOs).
This audit used a sample-based approach and reviewed a limited scope of the applicable funding conditions
and other requirements. As such, despite our best efforts, some non-compliance may remain undetected
and the audit does not provide complete assurance of historical, current or future compliance.
Non-detection of non-compliance does not make that practice compliant, and will not restrict the TEC from
taking action under the Education and Training Act 2020 or from recovering funding in the future if
non-compliance is later detected. Please refer to the audit guidelines for more information on the inherent
limitations of an audit.
Our audit focus wil be on assisting TEOs in achieving their objectives through wel -reasoned audits,
evaluations and analyses of the business viability and education outcomes for students.
Scope of the audit
TEC’s monitoring function is set out in section 409(1)(h) of the Education and Training Act 2020, which
provides that the TEC's functions are to "
monitor the performance of organisations that receive funding
from the Commission including by measuring performance against specified outcomes”.
The scope of the audit was aligned to the performance commitments in the Investment Plan and the
associated funding obligations between the TEC and your organisation. The scope was outlined in the audit
arrangements letter. TEC Audit Guidelines were also provided to help you understand how TEC undertakes
audits and what to expect during the audit.
The scope of the audit was outlined in the audit arrangements letter. This included the following:
> Your current registration and accreditation status for funding eligibility
> Your organisation’s systems and processes for reporting student data through the Single Data Return,
including reporting enrolments, student achievement and withdrawals
> Compliance with your funding conditions for each fund:
- Student Achievement Component – Provision at Level 3 and above
- Fees-free funding
> Compliance with the Annual Maximum Fee Movement policy, relating to fees and course costs
> The refund of any fees that have been overcharged (if applicable)
> Compliance with the Compulsory Student Services Fee (if applicable)
> Whether your organisation has offered any inducements or benefits to students
> Responsibility for any subcontracting requirements
> Your programmes and qualifications
> Your organisation’s process for maintaining student records as required by clause 13(1) of Schedule 18
of the Education and Training Act 2020 (for on-plan funding under section 425), and 25(1) of Schedule
18 (for off-plan funding under section 428)
Part five: TEO Corrective Actions
In addition to providing comments on the draft audit report, the TEO audited is requested to provide a list
below of any corrective actions to be undertaken on the audit.
Corrective Actions
Based on the recommendations in Part Two what corrective actions wil be undertaken?
Focus Issue
Corrective Action
Date to be
Area
completed
2
Inconsistent dates
• Set up electronic Attendance Register per
October
were recorded in
programme for 2022
2021
the attendance
• Set up templated Acceptance Letter per
schedule and the
programme for 2022
communication
letters to
students.
3
No enrolment /
• Study Policy is covered under the Professional
Completed
study policy
Continuous Development cycle as part of Staff
developed for
Appraisal system. Instructor staff qualifications
TOPEC staff in the
must be kept up to date and relevant as part of
QMS.
Safety Management System and Adventure Mark
certification.
8
The fees of one
• Put in EOY process for the new year
October
course was not
2021
compliant with
the AMFM policy.
9
Withdrawal and
• Add Course Withdrawal section to 2022 Student
October
refund
Handbooks and include Withdrawal Form to be
2021
information is not
filled out
recorded in the
• Add Course Refund section to 2022 Students
Student
Handbooks
Handbooks.
