Dear Kelly
Thank you for your emails received on 27 February 2022.

As required under the Official Information Act 1982 we will endeavour to respond to you no later than 25 March 2022, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

If we are unable to response to your request within this time frame, we will notify you of an extension of that time frame.

Ministerials and Privacy Services
Organisational Planning & Performance - Corporate & Finance

-----Original Message-----
From: K Roe <[FOI #18691 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 27 February 2022 10:27 am
To: Ministerial Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Graduate Degrees and External Examination

Dear Tertiary Education Commission,

ENROLLMENT DURATION OF 'GRADUATE RESEARCH' IN NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES

The Tertiary Education Commission states (in a very roundabout way on their website that is very hard to cite) that Universities are required to report:

1) EFTS
2) Points Value also
3) Enrollment duration.

The numbers are supposed to go like this:

120 points =
1 EFT =
1 Calendar Year =
1 Academic Year (that is to say summer school is extra and extra EFTS are associated with a student having chosen to enroll over the summer school period) =
34 'notional learning weeks' ('notional learning weeks' are defined as including student breaks and the external examination period) =
1,200 hours of study (roughly on average for an average student expecting average sorts of grades as a general sort of an indicator)

These numbers are available from the Tertiary Education Commission Website. It is difficult to cite from there and it is difficult for me to know the status of the information contained on the website. For example, it does not appear to be legally binding in any way.

- 34 weeks from 05 March 2018 is 08 October 2018.
- 34 weeks from 01 May 2018 is 25 December 2018.

QUESTION -- Please can you confirm for me that a student who is enrolled in a 120 point qualification with a 05 March 2018 start date (or a 01 May 2018 start date) should be able to reasonably expect to complete the qualification in 2018 in time to go do something else in 2019 academic year. That is to say, aiming to complete the 120 point qualification in 2018 is not attempting to do the impossible or attempting to complete the qualification in a 'truncated time frame'. It is attempting to do the work in a timely fashion.

The context is that Justice Toogood of the Hamilton High Court asserted in his Judgment that I was attempting to complete the qualification (on either of the above timelines) in a 'truncated timeframe' that meant the University was justified in refusing to examine my work.

But I was not trying to complete the qualification in a 'truncated timeframe' at all.

REQUIREMENT TO EXTERNALLY EXAMINE

- Shelley-Slade-Gully acting in her capacity as University In-House Counsel informed me by letter that the University was requiring me to pay fees that were additional to the fees that I had already paid for the 120 point enrollment. The University was re-enrolling me under 'limited full time status' (which is a status granted to students who are enrolled, in fact, on a part time basis) and then they were going to hold me under 'zero fees scheme' until the externals stated my thesis was to be accepted (by which she means without so much as a single typographical error) else it would not be accepted at all (and I would be kept under zero fees scheme).

I am asking the Tertiary Education Commission whether New Zealand Universities are required to arrange for timely external examination of theses that have been submitted for external examination or whether they have discretion to refuse to arrange for external examination and to do things like - give the thesis away, sell the thesis (e.g., if it contains designs or plans or whatever), sit on the thesis indefinitely, destroy the thesis).

My understanding of the 'academic freedom to work to international standards of scholarship' means that the University is required to get the thesis out to the external examiners.

- My thesis submission of 14 September 2018 was never sent to externals. I have track and trace courier signed delivery of 3 copies of my spiral bound thesis that were delivered to the Research School for the purposes of external examination. The University says I 'voluntarily' withdrew my thesis submission after they threatened to fail me outright if I 'insist' it go out. I couldn't find the paperwork involved in 'insisting my thesis go out' rather than 'submitting my thesis for external examination' but all my communcations with the university were by email so I have a record of all correspondence and I do not have in my records any request from me that they not externally examine the thesis that I submitted for the purpose of external examination.

- My thesis submission of 05 October 2018 was sent to externals where the Univesrity instructed the externals to examine the thesis FOR THE WRONG QUALIFICATION. They were instructed to complete reports of the under 50,000 word Masters thesis submission with respect to acceptability as a DOCTORAL THESIS (where a doctoral thesis is more like 80,000 - 90,000 words).

The examiners wrote that changes to the substance would be required for it to be acceptable as a doctoral thesis. But they were never asked to examine it as a Master's thesis (the Degree I was enrolled in) at all.

I made what changes they said I should to the best of my ability while keeping it under 50,000 words (the limit on Masters theses). I returned it to the University to get back to the anonymous externals so they could sign me off within 10 weeks (the University Calendar Regualtiosn state that when the thesis is not 'returned to the candidate' (by the external examiners) then the student has up to 10 weeks to get substantive changes signed off by an external.

- My thesis submission of 05 February 2019 was not sent to externals to prevent and prohibit them signing off that I had made the changes they required.

- My thesis submission of 24 February 2019 was not sent to externals to prevent and prohibit them signing off that I had made the changes they required.

_______________

The 120 point MPhil programme in 2018 was not over-subscribed. I submitted my application before the deadline. The University refused to send 4 lots or rounds of my thesis submissions out to externals, wrongly accusing me of attempting to complete the 120 point qualification in a 'truncated timeframe' in order to prevent and prohibit timely completion of the qualification. They informed me that if I insisted on submitting my thesis before their approval then they would fail me outright. I was failed because I refused to comply with their instructions when their instructions were that I not complete the course in the minimum normal or standard time. They set out to stabotage me only.

________________

- How many people who enrolled in a 120 point graduate research qualification (MA or MPhil) completed the qualification (thesis confirmed as accepted / grades (where applicable) locked in) within 12 calendar months of enrolment in:

- 2017 (how many studnets were enrolled in 120 point masters.)

- 2018 (how many studnets were enrolled in 120 point masters. how many completed the qualification within 12 calendar months of enrollment).

- 2019 (how many students were enrolled in 120 point masters. how many completed the qualification within 12 calendar months of enrollment).

__________________

Please can you confirm for me whether or not there is an expectation that Universities get the studnets work that has been submitted for external examination out to external examiners, or whether it is considered appropriate for the University to give away or to sell or to lock up and never examine work that a student has submitted for the purposes of external examination.

4 lots of my thesis submissions were not sent out for external examination because the University wanted to prevent and prohibit my timely completion of the qualification.

They instructed me, repeatedly, that I was required to work for 12 calendar months before submitting my thesis for up to 3 months of external examination for at least 15 months of enrolment on a 120 point masters level qualification. But this timeline forces students to be re-enrolled under 'limited full-time status' which is a status given to part-time students. It forces students to re-enroll under part-time status. Not because the studnet isn't capable of getting the work done on time but because the University refuses to allow studnets to complete graduate research qualifications in the 'minimum normal or standard time'.

They believe it is entirely at their discretion whether or not they sign off on completion of graduate research degrees. They force things to run over-time in order to collect up more and more and more fees.

But mostly it is about psychological abuse and forced compliance. The gaslighting of telling students over and over and over that they are useless and slow and their work is garbage and they are going to fail. That they better do what their supereriors say when they say because they say because they have unlimited power to refuse to get their work out to externals. If they don't housesit or suck their dicks or do anything anything anything they say. They have unlimited power to do anhything they like. They are quite above the laws of New Zealand.

Is that really what New Zealand Universities are? The ideology they have embraced?

I have a letter from Shelley-Slade-Gully in house counsel informing me that the University intended to keep me enrolled under zero fees indefinately until an external signed that my thesis was acceptable. The implication is that if there is so much as a typographical error (you are supposed to pay thousands to the university editing services, you see) then the university has discretion to fail you for the degree. The university also has discretion to give your work / ideas away without crediting or acknowledging you. They have discretion to throw your work into a basement and never get it to externals. They have discretion to return it to you themselves (without it having been examined). They have discretion to keep studnets re-enrolled and re-re-renrolled and re-re-re-enrolled.

They have discretion to only get work to externals if it was popped out of the post-modernist essay generator. They have discretion to only get work to externals if the supervisor wriote it for the student. They have discretion to only get work to externals that they forced to be plagarised. They have discretion.

Is this really the present or current state of New Zealand Universities?

From what I've seen the answer seems to be a resounding 'yes'.

From the Courts, as well.

________

Please:

1) Clarify the role of the TEC when it comes to regulations for the minimum term of enrolment for graduate research qualifications and expectations around external examiantion

2) Confirm the minimum enrolment term associated with graduate level qualifications (120 points is a minimum of 34 weeks and a maximum of 12 calendar months -- even that is forcing summer school, often. clarify it properly)

3) Confirm whether there is a requirement for the University to arrange for timely external examination of work that has been submitted for external examination. Otherwise confirm for the world that we have a bunch of slave / detention camps only. All our degrees are honorary titles that tell the world how compliant the studnet was with the present slave reigime

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #18691 email]

Is [TEC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Tertiary Education Commission? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Hello

 

Please find attached TEC's response to Ms Roe's [three] emails and
requests for information.

 

Regards

 

 

Ministerials and Privacy Services
Organisational Planning & Performance – Corporate & Finance
[1]FLASH DRIVE:TEC 33976 Visual Identity:02 Production:Stationery,  
Business Cards, Email Footer:TEC_Email_Logo_Footer.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: K Roe <[FOI #18691 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 27 February 2022 10:27 am
To: Ministerial Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Graduate Degrees and External
Examination

 

Dear Tertiary Education Commission,

 

ENROLLMENT DURATION OF 'GRADUATE RESEARCH' IN NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES

 

The Tertiary Education Commission states (in a very roundabout way on
their website that is very hard to cite) that Universities are required to
report:

 

1) EFTS

2) Points Value also

3) Enrollment duration. 

 

The numbers are supposed to go like this:

 

120 points =

1 EFT =

1 Calendar Year =

1 Academic Year (that is to say summer school is extra and extra EFTS are
associated with a student having chosen to enroll over the summer school
period) =

34 'notional learning weeks' ('notional learning weeks' are defined as
including student  breaks and the external examination period) =

1,200 hours of study (roughly on average for an average student expecting
average sorts of grades as a general sort of an indicator)

 

These numbers are available from the Tertiary Education Commission
Website.  It is difficult to cite from there and it is difficult for me to
know the status of the information contained on the website.  For example,
it does not appear to be legally binding in any way.

 

- 34 weeks from 05 March 2018 is 08 October 2018.

- 34 weeks from 01 May 2018 is 25 December 2018.

 

QUESTION -- Please can you confirm for me that a student who is enrolled
in a 120 point qualification with a 05 March 2018 start date (or a 01 May
2018 start date) should be able to reasonably expect to complete the
qualification in 2018 in time to go do something else in 2019 academic
year.  That is to say, aiming to complete the 120 point qualification in
2018 is not attempting to do the impossible or attempting to complete the
qualification in a 'truncated time frame'.  It is attempting to do the
work in a timely fashion.

 

The context is that Justice Toogood of the Hamilton High Court asserted in
his Judgment that I was attempting to complete the qualification (on
either of the above timelines) in a 'truncated timeframe' that meant the
University was justified in refusing to examine my work.

 

But I was not trying to complete the qualification in a 'truncated
timeframe' at all.

 

REQUIREMENT TO EXTERNALLY EXAMINE

 

- Shelley-Slade-Gully acting in her capacity as University In-House
Counsel informed me by letter that the University was requiring me to pay
fees that were additional to the fees that I had already paid for the 120
point enrollment.  The University was re-enrolling me under 'limited full
time status' (which is a status granted to students who are enrolled, in
fact, on a part time basis) and then they were going to hold me under
'zero fees scheme' until the externals stated my thesis was to be accepted
(by which she means without so much as a single typographical error) else
it would not  be accepted at all (and I would be kept under zero fees
scheme).

 

I am asking the Tertiary Education Commission whether New Zealand
Universities are required to arrange for timely external examination of
theses that have been submitted for external examination or whether they
have discretion to refuse to arrange for external examination and to do
things like - give the thesis away, sell the thesis (e.g., if it contains
designs or plans or whatever), sit on the thesis indefinitely, destroy the
thesis).

 

My understanding of the 'academic freedom to work to international
standards of scholarship' means that the University is required to get the
thesis out to the external examiners.

 

- My thesis submission of 14 September 2018 was never sent to externals. 
I have track and trace courier signed delivery of 3 copies of my spiral
bound thesis that were delivered to the Research School for the purposes
of external examination.  The University says I 'voluntarily' withdrew my
thesis submission after they threatened to fail me outright if I 'insist'
it go out.  I couldn't find the paperwork involved in 'insisting my thesis
go out' rather than 'submitting my thesis for external examination' but
all my communcations with the university were by email so I have a record
of all correspondence and I do not have in my records any request from me
that they not externally examine the thesis that I submitted for the
purpose of external examination.

 

- My thesis submission of 05 October 2018 was sent to externals where the
Univesrity instructed the externals to examine the thesis FOR THE WRONG
QUALIFICATION.  They were instructed to complete reports of the under
50,000 word Masters thesis submission with respect to acceptability as a
DOCTORAL THESIS (where a doctoral thesis is more like 80,000 - 90,000
words).

 

The examiners wrote that changes to the substance would be required for it
to be acceptable as a doctoral thesis.  But they were never asked to
examine it as a Master's thesis (the Degree I was enrolled in) at all.

 

I made what changes they said I should to the best of my ability while
keeping it under 50,000 words (the limit on Masters theses).  I returned
it to the University to get  back to the anonymous externals so they could
sign me off within 10 weeks (the University Calendar Regualtiosn state
that when the thesis is not 'returned to the candidate' (by the external
examiners) then the student has up to 10 weeks to get substantive changes
signed off by an external.

 

- My thesis submission of 05 February 2019 was not sent to externals to
prevent and prohibit them signing off that I had made the changes they
required.

 

- My thesis submission of 24 February 2019 was not sent to externals to
prevent and prohibit them signing off that I had made the changes they
required.

 

_______________

 

The 120 point MPhil programme in 2018 was not over-subscribed.  I
submitted my application before the deadline.  The University refused to
send 4 lots or rounds of my thesis submissions out to externals, wrongly
accusing me of attempting to complete the 120 point qualification in a
'truncated timeframe' in order to prevent and prohibit timely completion
of the qualification.  They informed me that if I insisted on submitting
my thesis before their approval then they would fail me outright.  I was
failed because I refused to comply with their instructions when their
instructions were that I not complete the course in the minimum normal or
standard time.  They set out to stabotage me only.

 

________________

 

- How many people who enrolled in a 120 point graduate research
qualification (MA or MPhil) completed the qualification (thesis confirmed
as accepted / grades (where applicable) locked in) within 12 calendar
months of enrolment in:

 

- 2017 (how  many studnets were enrolled in 120 point masters.)

 

- 2018 (how many studnets were enrolled in 120 point masters.  how many
completed the qualification within 12 calendar months of enrollment).

 

- 2019 (how many students were enrolled in 120 point masters.  how many
completed the qualification within 12 calendar months of enrollment).

 

__________________

 

Please can you confirm for me whether or not there is an expectation that
Universities get the studnets work that has been submitted for external
examination out to external examiners, or whether it is considered
appropriate for the University to give away or to sell or to lock up and
never examine work that a student has submitted for the purposes of
external examination.

 

4 lots of my thesis submissions were not sent out for external examination
because the University wanted to prevent and prohibit my timely completion
of the qualification.

 

They instructed me, repeatedly, that I was required to work for 12
calendar months before submitting my thesis for up to 3 months of external
examination for at least 15 months of enrolment on a 120 point masters
level qualification.  But this timeline forces students to be re-enrolled
under 'limited full-time status' which is a status given to part-time
students.  It forces students to re-enroll under part-time status.  Not
because the studnet isn't capable of getting the work done on time but
because the University refuses to allow studnets to complete graduate
research qualifications in the 'minimum normal or standard time'. 

 

They believe it is entirely at their discretion whether or not they sign
off on completion of graduate research degrees.  They force things to run
over-time in order to collect up more and more and more fees.

 

But mostly it is about psychological abuse and forced compliance.  The
gaslighting of telling students over and over and over that they are
useless and slow and their work is garbage and they are going to fail. 
That they better do what their supereriors say when they say because they
say because they have unlimited power to refuse to get their work out to
externals.  If they don't housesit or suck their dicks or do anything
anything anything they say.  They have unlimited power to do anhything
they like.  They are quite above the laws of New Zealand.

 

Is that really what New Zealand Universities are?  The ideology they have
embraced?

 

I have a letter from Shelley-Slade-Gully in house counsel informing me
that the University intended to keep me enrolled under zero fees
indefinately until an external signed that my thesis was acceptable.  The
implication is that if there is so much as a typographical error (you are
supposed to pay thousands to the university editing services, you see)
then the university has discretion to fail you for the degree.  The
university also has discretion to give your work / ideas away without
crediting or acknowledging you.  They have discretion to throw your work
into a basement and never get it to externals.  They have discretion to
return it to you themselves (without it having been examined).  They have
discretion to keep studnets re-enrolled and re-re-renrolled and
re-re-re-enrolled.

 

They have discretion to only get work to externals if it was popped out of
the post-modernist essay generator.  They have discretion to only get work
to externals if the supervisor wriote it for the student.  They have
discretion to only get work to externals that they forced to be
plagarised.  They have discretion. 

 

Is this really the present or current state of New Zealand Universities?

 

From what I've seen the answer seems to be a resounding 'yes'.

 

From the Courts, as well.

 

________

 

Please:

 

1)  Clarify the role of the TEC when it comes to regulations for the
minimum term of enrolment for graduate research qualifications and
expectations around external examiantion

 

2)  Confirm the minimum enrolment term associated with graduate level
qualifications (120 points is a minimum of 34 weeks and a maximum of 12
calendar months -- even that is forcing summer school, often.  clarify it
properly)

 

3)  Confirm whether there is a requirement for the University to arrange
for timely external examination of work that has been submitted for
external examination.  Otherwise confirm for the world that we have a
bunch of slave / detention camps only.  All our degrees are honorary
titles that tell the world how compliant the studnet was with the present
slave reigime

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[2][FOI #18691 email]

 

Is [3][TEC request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Tertiary Education Commission? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[4]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[5]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

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