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2025 Leadership Micro-Credential Development for Entrepreneurship Programme

Updated 6 June 2025

New Leadership Micro-credential for entrepreneurship programme

The project to create micro-credentials for an Entrepreneurship programme aimed at Pacific and South Auckland rangatahi is proposing to align these with new micro-credentials for Leadership. 

In early 2025, Ringa Hora, in partnership with Zeducation, The Cause Collective (TCC), and Lifeskills, began work developing two micro-credentials for entrepreneurship that aligned with the successful BOSS programme. 

After an initial round of national consultation, it is now proposed that the micro-credentials will embed the new Leadership skill standards, which are being developed separately. 

New Proposed Micro-credentials 

The new draft versions of the Micro-credentials are:

These Level 3 Micro-credentials stack into the New Zealand Certificate in Leadership (Level 3) (40 credits), which has just been approved and published on the NZQA website. 

Aligned with the BOSS programme, these micro-credentials offer a flexible pathway for learners and equip aspiring leaders/entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge for success.

 

The differences between the new draft proposals and the previous proposed micro-credentials for Introduction to Entrepreneurship (Level 3) and Entrepreneurship to Leadership (Level 3) can be seen in this document. 

Because of the significance of these changes, we are holding a second round of national consultation. 

Ringa Hora is keen to hear your feedback on the proposals by 4 July 2025. 

Leadership skill standards 

To review the leadership skill standards (currently under national consultation) please click here. 

Indicative timeline 

The below timeline is a high-level view of indicative dates for each stage of development. All dates are subject to change. 

Stage 1 Background (Oct-Dec 24)
Stage 2 – Draft micro-credentials (Dec 24-Mar 25)
Stage 3 – National consultation on draft micro-credentials (Mar-May 25)

    • Round 1 Mar-Apr
    • Review feedback and amend drafts – April
    • Round 2 April-May

Stage 4 – Submit applications to NZQA (Apr 25 onwards).

What are Micro-credentials? 

A micro-credential is a small, stand-alone credential which provides a way to recognise a learner’s abilities while meeting demand from employers, industry, and communities. 

The intent behind them is to create sub-qualification sized learning that is meaningful to employers, and valuable and transferable for learners. 

Although they’re stand-alone awards, some micro-credentials may also form part of a programme that leads to a qualification. 

For further information see Micro-credentials : NZQA, and to search for Micro-credentials, search the NZQA Register of NZQA List of Approved Micro-credentials. See Micro-credentials – Ringa Hora

What is the BOSS programme?

The BOSS programme (bridging, opportunities, skills and success) targets Pacific and South Auckland rangatahi between the ages of 16 – 30 years of age who are wanting to or currently exploring entrepreneurship. It is focused on empowering young people with the tools, skills and knowledge to navigate the business world through the different stages of business by way of six theory-based modules and 3 pastoral modules.

  • Dream big and hard
  • Boss mindset
  • Think like a BOSS (critical thinking)
  • Product = A solution to someone’s problem
  • Customer comes first – this brings the sale
  • Put more money in your pocket (work smarter not harder)

Questions and comments/Ngā pātai me ngā tākapu?

We look forward to hearing your views so we can finalise the proposed changes and submit the Micro-credentials to NZQA for Quality Assurance.