Professional bodies and professional designations within the new NQF. Public meeting of professional bodies Kopanong, 21 April 2010

Transcription

1 bodies and professional designations within the new NQF Public meeting of professional bodies Kopanong, 21 April 2010

2 Overview of presentation Work of the Review Panel Promulgation of Act of Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 4. Common understanding 5. Roles and responsibilities 6. Implication of the new Act 7. Road

3 1. SAQA Naming Convention Task Team (2003) 2. MoUs with ECSA and HPCSA 3. Meetings with ICSA and others 4. Renewed focus professional qualifications (2004) 5. Initial research, emphasis on international case studies (early 2005) 6. Establishment of a SAQA/CHE Task Team to develop and oversee focused research (mid-2005) 7. Appointment of Ms Ruth Rogers to 2008 investigate qualifications listed as professional on (October 2005) 8. Research completed and report made available for public comment (May to July 2006) 1. Review Panel appointed to consider public comments and make recommendations to SAQA (2006) 2. Stakeholder workshop (October 2006) 3. Recommendations considered by SAQA (2007) 4. End of NQF review process (2008) 5. Promulgation of Act of 6. Preparatory work for implementation of Act (2009) 7. Development of policy and criteria for the recognition of professional bodies and registration of professional designations ( ) 1. Challenges and progress 2. Locating professional designations 3. Common understanding 4. Roles and responsibilities 5. Implication of the new Act 6. Road

4 Work of the Review Panel (2006) Prof Hu Hanrahan (ECSA): Chair Dr Raymond Patel (CHIETA/MERSETA): Vicechair Ms Vihitha Beharee (SACE) Mr Chris de Villiers (ICSA) Mr Graham Terry (SAICA) Prof Hugh Jeffery (SAIME) Ms Hasina Subedar (SANC) Prof Shajila Singh (HPCSA) 1. Challenges and progress 2. Locating professional designations 3. Common understanding 4. Roles and responsibilities 5. Implication of the new Act 6. Road

5 Work of the Review Panel Recommendations: 1. Adopt revision of the definition of professional qualification 2. qualifications (in terms of the Panel s definition) must be included in 3. designations should not to be included in 4. CPD programmes should not be included on Ancillary recommendations: (i) (ii) (iii) bodies are encouraged to publish the standards for professional competency in a form that supports objectives and other types of qualifications should not have mutually exclusive the search criteria NQF on the NLRD No material distinction exists between the statutory and non-statutory bodies for the purpose of registering professional qualifications 1. Challenges and progress 2. Locating professional designations 3. Common understanding 4. Roles and responsibilities 5. Implication of the new Act 6. Road

6 Work of the Review Panel A professional body: Acts in the public interest Awards a professional designation Determine standards for professional competence and professional qualifications, latter registered on Quality assures qualifications, under agreements with other ETQA s where necessary Assesses persons against standards of professional competence or accredits parties to assess Has mechanisms for ensuring compliance with a Code of Conduct 1. Challenges and progress 2. Locating professional designations 3. Common understanding 4. Roles and responsibilities 5. Implication of the new Act 6. Road

7 International comparisons Ireland voluntary and open approach to the inclusion of professional - emphasis on autonomy of professional bodies and consistent nomenclature England identification occupational qualifications as particular group, but concerns the potential divisive effects Scotland SCQF will be expanded to include professional qualifications European Union reform of system for professional qualifications to include five levels 1. Challenges and progress 2. Locating professional designations 3. Common understanding 4. Roles and responsibilities 5. Implication of the new Act 6. Road

8 Challenges and progress Statutory professional bodies/councils in regulated professions often in existence for extended periods (100 years or more) Limited mainly to traditional professions e.g. doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc. qualifications and designations offered in close co-operation with international (often UK) awarding bodies Qualifications frameworks started to develop in the late 1980s Increasing number non-statutory professional bodies established Designations no longer limited to traditional professions also marketers, company secretaries, project management, health and skincare, etc. National regulation of professional qualifications 1. Challenges and progress 1. Locating professional designations 2. Common understanding 3. Roles and responsibilities 4. Implication of the new Act 5. Road

9 Locating professional designations Academic qualification and/or qualification Registration Granting of designation Right to practice Ongoing retention Including workplace experience Competence assessment/ examination (formal or informal) CPD, Code of ethics, Fees STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 2. Challenges and progress 1. Locating professional designations 1. Common understanding 2. Roles and responsibilities 3. Implication of the new Act 4. Road

10 Common understanding professional body A professional body is a body constituted to represent a recognised community of expert practitioners and as such it devises, informs, monitors and continually updates the benchmark standards of competence, both academic and practical, required in the practice of the profession for which it is responsible. professional qualification A professional qualification has the defined purpose of providing qualifying learners with applied competence and a basis for further learning toward obtaining a professional designation. The attainment of a professional qualification does not necessarily lead to a professional designation. professional designation designations are conferred by a professional body to indicate the professional status of an individual and the right of that individual to practice in the particular field of expertise governed by that body. Retention of this status is dependent upon compliance with the stated requirements of the body concerned. A designation may be revoked. 2. Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 1. Common understanding 1. Roles and responsibilities 2. Implication of the new Act 3. Road

11 Roles and responsibilities: designations bodies Develop; Confer; Revoke; Quality assure with QC Accredited providers SAQA analysis qualifications Quality assure on Qualification councils Government ministries Individual Offer qualifications as partial requirement National oversight on qualifications National data collection and Regulate; Provide policy guidance Meets requirements; Is awarded, Retains 2. Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 4. Common understanding 1. Roles and responsibilities 1. Implication of the new Act 2. Road

12 Roles and responsibilities A professional body: Is responsible for the development and quality assurance of its professional designations in terms of its own rules, legislation and conventions Can participate in the delivery, development & quality assurance professional discretion of the relevant QC Must apply to SAQA to register its designations on the NQF 2. Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 4. Common understanding 1. Roles and responsibilities 1. Implication of the new Act 2. Road

13 Implications of the new Act Rationale for including professional body matters in the new NQF Act: To address identified challenges, such as comparability across sectors To create an opportunity for non-statutory participation on an equal footing To allow for a nationally coordinated and coherent approach, including the availability of data on professions SAQA will now: Continue to register qualifications (including professional on qualifications) on Recognise professional bodies Register professional designations on 2. Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 4. Common understanding 5. Roles and responsibilities 1. Implication of the new Act 1. Road

14 Road designations, while still the predominant responsibility of professional bodies, will now have to meet national policy and criteria 1. Reference Group is constituted and develops draft policy and criteria (May to August 2010) 2. Draft policy and criteria is released for public comment (Sept to Oct 2010) 3. Public hearings (if necessary) 4. Policy and criteria finalised and promulgated (March 2011) 5. First registrations take place (second quarter of 2011) 2. Challenges and progress 3. Locating professional designations 4. Common understanding 5. Roles and responsibilities 6. Implication of the new Act 1. Road

15 designations remain a powerful and effective means through which standards and benchmarks can be maintained in South Africa. Working in consultation with all roleplayers, particularly professional bodies, SAQA remains committed to ensure that South African professionals receive nationally relevant and internationally comparable qualifications.

16 bodies and professional designations within the new NQF Public meeting of professional bodies Kopanong, 21 April 2010

17 Input and suggestions from delegates Table discussions (11.30 to 12.00) SAQA staff member is available to facilitate the discussion Nominate a rapporteur Record the key points on the given template Identify ONE key issue Ask the rapporteur to report the ONE key issue to the plenary (12.00 to 12.30) To be followed by an overview of the Reference Group nomination process and comments on the way forward

18 Setting up the Reference Group To allow key stakeholders to engage in the process and ensure adequate buy-in To advise SAQA the draft policy and criteria Consisting of: SAQA Board members Project Team members Representatives from the 3 QCs Representative from the DoHET Representatives from professional bodies

19 Next steps 1. The nomination form and terms of reference for the Reference Group is available at from today 2. Nominations are due by 7 May 2010 and can be submitted online 3. Comments and questions can be sent to SAQA throughout the process at professionalbody@saqa.org.za or through the normal SAQA services: Helpdesk: Tel: Fax: