1. HEQC Accreditation Process & Role of Professional Bodies (PB) CHE & Professional Bodies Forum 12 September 2012

2. OUTLINE CHE Purpose – programme accreditation Responsibility for accreditation Principles Process Outcomes Challenges Considerations

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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.

8. CANDIDACY PHASE: ON-LINE PROCESS (1) RECEIPT of APPLICATION EVALUATIONOUTCOME INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE

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

10. CANDIDACY PHASE 1.2 RECOMMENDATION:EVALUATOR/SRECOMMENDATION:DIRECTORATEREVIEW: ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE (AC) DECISION: HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY COMMITTEE (HEQC) Defer Site Visit

11. POSSIBLE OUTCOMES PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED NOT ACCREDITED OUTCOME WITH CONDITIONS Representation NO CONDITIONS Short Term Long Term Prior to Commencement DHET SAQA

12. 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

13. 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

14. OUTCOMES Improved programmes? High quality graduates i.t.o. skills, knowledge & attitudes? Elimination of non-accredited programmes?