Professionalisation and Occupational Qualification Development Nadia Traut: Inseta
How many of us can say that we are currently working in an occupation that we studied towards? How many of us achieved qualifications that prepared us for the world of work? 2
Background Origin of SA NQF; conceived in democratic labour movement (1993) Objective; deal with legacies of job reservation and discriminatory training practices creating ladders of opportunity or learning and career pathways Assumed outcomes; closing skills gaps greater labour market efficiency higher levels of productivity 3
Legislative Context NQF Review in 2001 which resulted in; Skills Development Act as amended (2008), National Qualification Framework Act (2008) repeal of the SAQA Acts now provide for; a single integrated NQF comprising three sub-frameworks three Quality Councils to manage the sub-frameworks within the single National Qualifications Framework 4
Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework NQF Doctoral Degree Masters Degree Master Postgraduate Diploma Professional Qualifications Degree CHE Level 10 Level 9 Level 8 Occcupational curricula Bachelor Degree Advanced Diploma Diploma Advanced Certificate Higher Certificate National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) Adult National Senior Certificate Units of learning to be accumulated Advanced National Certificate (Vocational) 5 National Certificate (Vocational) 4 National Certificate (Vocational) 3 National Certificate (Vocational) 2 Incl. subject / unit certificates UMALUSI Level 7 Level 6 Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 QCTO National Occupational Awards National Skills Certificates al. Assessfications COccupationa ment specif F L NOPF General Education & Training Certificate (Grade 9) Adult National Senior Certificate FETI Conference 2009-08-25 Level 1 5 5
A new dispensation The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is established as one of three quality councils, responsible for trades and occupations. The Council for Higher Education (CHE) remains responsible for Higher Education and Training Umalusi remains responsible for General and Further Education and Training 6
National Qualifications Framework Department of Higher Educati ion and Training General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Framework (GFETQF) (Sub-framework) Umalusi General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act and Amendments National Qualifications Framework Act and Amendments South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Occupational Qualifications Framework (OQF) (Sub-framework) Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Skills Development Act and Amendments Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) (Sub-framework) Council for Higher Education (CHE) Higher Education Act and Amendments 7
Focus of new legislation The Labour Market (employers, incl. government, and employees/self-employed) needs competent people to grow business, the economy and society currently employed need formal (nationally recognised) knowledge and skills to improve their employability and career advancement possibilities new entrants into the Labour Market may need formal (nationally recognised) work experience to perform specific occupations 8
Demand Driven Occupational Learning System DoL SETAs QCTO NOPF ESSA Report Reflect Industry Needs Economy Develop Qualification Occupational Assessment & Qualifications Specifications Curriculum 5 1 OFO 2 4 6 3 7 Impact assessment Labour Market 8 SAQA NLRD Provider System Accredited Providers & Approved Workplaces External Assessment SETAs Register & Promote Learning Programmes Learnerships Apprenticeships Skills Programmes Society FETI Conference 2009-08-25 9
Quality Council for Trades and Occupations So, what is it that the QCTO will do? The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations will manage the development and quality assurance of relevant fit-for purpose occupational qualifications and national standards as required by the Labour Market. 10
QCTO cont Utilize the skills classification system; the Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO) as a basis for development of occupational qualifications to address industry needs. Establish and manage the Occupational Qualifications Framework (as a sub-framework on the NQF) Work with and coordinate the many role-players in the labour market (DOL, DHET, SETA s, providers, employers, professional bodies, assessors and moderators) Introduce National External Summative Assessment for each occupational qualification for certification purposes 11
QCTO Qualification Development, Provision and Assessment Structures
QCTO Delegation In terms of section 32 of the NQF Act, SAQA and the Quality Councils may delegate any of their functions to a committee or any suitable body capable of performing the function the bodies to which the QCTO delegates functions shall be called Quality Partners (i.e. Development Quality Partners (DQPs) and Assessment Quality Partners (AQPs). 13
Development Quality Partner In essence, the DQP coordinates and funds the process of gathering relevant expert practitioners and educationalists (not limited to own constituency or stakeholders) to participate in the development and verification of occupational curricula and qualification assessment specifications 14
Assessment Quality Partner In essence, the AQP develops and maintains a national databank of instruments for external assessment and coordinates and manages the national external assessment for the delegated occupational qualification. 15
Fit for purpose qualifications? Occupational qualifications will reflect industry needs? Discussions related to skills development often founder because there are three distinct skills development discourses: Psst Education Qualified in Some sort of knowledge domain (field of learning)? Praxis Qualified as? Belonging to the guild of practitioners Your ultimate qualification is your CV It is the measure of what you have achieved are capable of and what communities you have belonged to Labour market Qualified to Do something useful for the economy & society (occupation, specialisation) 16
What is an Occupational Qualification? SDA (2008) defines an occupational qualification as; a qualification associated with a trade or occupation, resulting from work based learning and consisting of knowledge unit standards, practical unit standards and work experience unit standards and developed and registered through QCTO processes Occupational Qualifications must reflect all three forms of learning and culminate in an external summative; knowledge and theory (minimum 20%) - provider practical skills (minimum 20%) - provider work experience (minimum 20%) employer 17
Professionalisation The POA has embarked on a process to professionalise the occupation of the Principal Executive Officer by (amongst other activities); registering an occupational qualification and assessment framework for the Principal Executive Officer with QCTO. Through education and training, and specifically occupational training, all Principal Officers and other talented people within the retirement industry, could find a route to professional registration. POA members and the retirement industry as a whole will achieve higher professional standards and improve and maintain their knowledge and skill. 18
Principle Officer OFO 134910: Professional Principal Executive Officer Executes the decisions of the pensions fund board of trustees and liaise with services providers to the pension fund. Based on this OFO occupation, the POA have made successful application to the QCTO to fund and coordinate the development of an occupational qualification for the constituency Inseta, the Insurance and related services education and training authority are partnering with the POA in this forward thinking initiative 19
STEPS Compile. 8 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: MANAGED BY DEVELOPMENT QUALITY PARTNER Development Facilitator. QCTO Manage process. 7 Assessment Quality Partner. Consolidate and verify. 6 Constituency Group. Facilitate Work Groups. 5 Consolidate and verify. 4 Facilitate Work Group. 3 CEP and Education Work Groups. Constituency Group. CEP Work Group. Scoping meeting. 2 Constituency Group. Receive and process application. 1 QCTO. RESULTS Curriculum Scope Occupational Profile Learning Process Design Curriculum document Qualifications Assessment Specification Qualification Description & standards A B C D E F
Way forward The occupational qualification once registered is a public document and is not owned by the POA, but rather maintained and reviewed annually on behalf and in partnership with its constituency The National External Summative Assessment will be developed and maintained by the POA who will administer this board exam for national occupational certification and possibly professional designation 21
THANK YOU!!! 22