HEQC Accreditation Process & Role of Professional Bodies (PB)

CHE & Professional Bodies Forum 12 September 2012

OUTLINE

• CHE Purpose – programme accreditation • Responsibility for accreditation • Principles • Process • Outcomes • Challenges • Considerations

PURPOSE

• Assure and improve the quality of programmes • Grants recognition status to provider for meeting minimum standards • Supports providers enhance quality at an institutional level • Provides information of accredited programmes to students and parents

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCREDITATION

• HE Act (1997) and NQF Act (2008) • QC for all whole qualifications (L 5 – L10) • New programmes – public & private HEIs • Reaccreditation – PHEIs • Per provider, qualification, mode of delivery & site • Approximately 400 applications per year • No delegation

SYSTEM

• HEQC on-line - new programmes, re accreditation • Application form – in order of criteria 1-9 for new programmes (candidacy phase) • Documents uploaded e.g. policies • 19 criteria – each with minimum standards

PRINCIPLES

• Explicit set of criteria • Peer evaluation process • Rigorous - Fairness & consistency • Multiple checks and balances: – Checklisting & screening – Evaluation – Recommendations – Accreditation Committee scrutiny – HEQC

CRITERIA

1. Programme design 2. Student recruitment,admission & selection 3-4. Staffing 5. Teaching and learning strategy 6. Assessment 7. Infrastructure and library resources 8. Administrative services 9. Postgraduate policies, procedures etc.

CANDIDACY PHASE: ON-LINE PROCESS (1)

RECEIPT of APPLICATION INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE EVALUATION OUTCOME

CANDIDACY PHASE 1.1 APPLICATION RECEIVED CHECKLISTING & SCREENING EVALUATOR/S APPOINTED

CANDIDACY PHASE 1.2

RECOMMENDATION:EVALUATOR/S RECOMMENDATION:DIRECTORATE REVIEW: ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE (AC)

Defer Site Visit

DECISION: HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY COMMITTEE (HEQC)

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

OUTCOME PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED DHET SAQA NOT ACCREDITED WITH CONDITIONS Prior to Commencement NO CONDITIONS Short Term Long Term

Representation

CHALLENGES

• HEQF alignment • Increasing number of applications • Short courses • Improving efficiency and effectiveness of dual professional body and CHE processes • Reports from professional bodies • MOUs with professional bodies

POSSIBLE AREAS OF COLLABORATION

• New programmes • Batch evaluation • Evaluators – training & incentives • Accredit with condition of PB approval • Membership of CHE Accreditation Committee • Portal for PB on HEQC-Online system

OUTCOMES

• Improved programmes?

• High quality graduates i.t.o. skills, knowledge & attitudes?

• Elimination of non-accredited programmes?