The standard in the NQF system is held in the Unit Standard. A Unit Standard is the smallest unit that can be credited to a learner. Unit Standards can stand alone, but are generally part of a Qualification. A cluster of Unit Standards, including fundamental learning, core learning and elective learning, form a full Qualification.

A short course may vary in length from taking less than one year to complete to being only a half day long. to as many as 5 days and covers material related to one subject. The course may be accredited or non-accredited and may either be a stand alone course or be part of a larger qualification or a learning programme.
Many Short Courses are useful within the appropriate career field and can add value to an individual already in said career.

Qualifications and Unit Standards, governed by the NSB regulations and developed by expert stakeholder groupings, prescribe the outcomes, assessment criteria and other relevant detail for learner achievement. These guide the educator/assessor with regard to what the learner needs to know, do and apply.

A learning programme consists of learning and assessment activities derived from the outcomes that make up the Qualification. This is what the provider designs, based on sound educational principles (for example, learner-centredness). This manual offers a systematic way of planning learning and assessment activities that will assist the learner to achieve the desired knowledge, skills, applications and attitudes.

The learning programme is really the what, the when and the how of implementation. It is about what happens in the classroom: the teaching/ learning and assessment activities associated with achieving outcomes. It is clearly the task of providers to structure exciting, challenging and innovative learning and assessment experiences for learners, while it is the job of the ETQA to consider whether providers have offered learners a fair opportunity to acquire the outcomes by monitoring the learning programme and quality assuring the learning achievement.

SETA (Skills Education Training Authority) accredited training entails that a skills development course is approved by one of the 21 industry specific SETAs. Each SETA sets specific standards for training providers which ensures the quality of the SETA accredited course. Once the attendee has completed the SETA accredited training, they will obtain recognition of competence that is recognised throughout the whole of South Africa. It confirms the level of proficiency and quality of training undertaken for current and future employers.

Therefore, the main benefit for employers is the knowledge that a certain standard has been set and adhered to by the course provider. The attendee has the benefit of knowing their training will be recognized throughout South Africa and can aim to complete a full Qualification Title if numerous courses have been successfully passed of the same qualification standard.

“SETA” stands for “Sector Education and Training Authority” in South Africa and are considered governmental assigned Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) bodies. In total, 21 different SETA’s established under the Skills Development Act (RSA, 1998c) cover all sectors of the South African economy. They are concerned with quality assuring training and education in relevant industries. For example, our Environmental Management Certificate (qualification) and each of the Unit Standards with in it are accredited with the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA). Their job is to help implement the National Skills Development Strategy and to increase the skills of people in their specific sector. The over arching body of all Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) bodies, i.e. SETAs is the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is managed by SAQA. It ensures quality and genuine qualification that is nationally benchmarked and internationally comparable. Each SAQA unit standard has an assigned NQF level and credits.
Additional information can be found under:

www.nqf.org.za
www.saqa.org.za

There will be no exams after the course but you will need to compile a Portfolio of Evidence (POE), i.e. an assignment package. The POE will be partly compiled during course and partly after the course and includes a variety of questions and assignments. The exact submission date will be given to the participant during the course. Students will be able to resubmit their Portfolio of Evidence if the assessor deems the students as not yet competent

The Portfolio of Evidence will be assessed by a registered constituent Assessor and moderated by a registered constituent Moderator. Both will be specialists in the field and registered with an Education and Training Qualification Assurance (ETQA) body, i.e. industry specific SETA.

Each participant will receive a Certificate of Attendance after the course. A Statement of Results will be issued by the relevant SETA after a learner has been deemed competent for that course.  A Certificate of Competency is issued only after successful completion of a full qualification.