Varsity College Accreditation brochure 2017 41720VC_Accreditation_brochure_2017 | Page 2

6. What is the difference between the conferring body or institution and a brand of

an institution?
The conferring body or institution is the organisation that confers or awards the final qualification,
should all the examinations and requirements have been passed. This is the institution that is
registered with the DHET with the qualification.
Some registered institutions (such as The IIE) work through groups of campuses organised under
brand names – for instance Rosebank College, Varsity College, Vega and DSSA campuses are
campuses registered under The IIE. (Be sure to check the register for the institution name and not
the brand name – and if you are not sure and cannot find your brand on the register check that you
are searching for the right thing. You will find the brand name under the name of The IIE on the
register – listed as a site of delivery.)
2.1 How do I check qualifications on SAQA?
Visit www.saqa.org.za, click on ‘Qualifications and Part-Qualifications and unit standards’ on
the right hand side. Search for the qualification and the conferring body, for example, “The
Independent Institute of Education”, UNISA etc. http://allqs.saqa.org.za/.
3. Some courses are advertised as programmes and others as qualifications. What is the
difference between a qualification and a short learning programme?
This is important as some institutions use this language to mislead. A qualification is only a
qualification if it is registered on the NQF, accredited by the HEQC (if it is Higher Education) and
registered to that institution by the DHET. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC AND A
PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDER/ INSTITUTION?
It can only be registered and accredited as a qualification if it is at least 120 credits (a full year
of study) and is in the format that is required. Sometimes qualifications are called programmes
or have programmes in them (an academic year could be called a programme). The key thing to
keep in mind is that a short learning programme or short course is not a qualification. Public Higher Education providers are institutions that have been established and funded by the
state. Public providers can be referred to as universities, universities of technology and comprehensive
universities. There are 26 public universities in South Africa.
If what you need is a particular skill for a particular reason (like promotion or upgrade of legal
knowledge) a short learning programme or short course may be the right course of study for
you – it is just important to know that it is NOT a qualification and cannot usually be used to gain
access to further study at a higher level.

A South African qualification then has to be registered and accredited here in South Africa – by
the HEQC and it needs to be listed on the NQF.
4. What is the Council for Higher Education (CHE)/ Higher Education Quality Committee
(HEQC)?
Not only do registration
and accreditation meet
legal requirements but they
also provide you as the
student access to redress
mechanisms – including the
HEQC of the CHE, the DHET
and SAQA – should
concerns arise.
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In order to ensure that all South African qualifications – offered by private and public
institutions – are of the same standard, the HEQC is the body established by law to accredit
(quality assure and approve) all Higher Education qualifications. The HEQC is a subcommittee
of the Council for Higher Education (CHE) which is a body established by the government to
oversee Higher Education – particularly the quality of South African qualifications and the
institutions that offer them.
Private Higher Education providers, on the other hand, are owned by private organisations or
individuals. Although many of them offer the same qualifications as public providers, private provider
institutions are mostly privately funded (through student fees) and are not subsidised by the state.
The qualifications of both public and private higher education institutions must be accredited by the
HEQC and registered on the NQF.
OTHER METHODS OF CHECKING QUALITY
1. Quality of Lecturers

2. What are the campus facilities like?

5. How do I check the legitimacy of a foreign qualification?
You need to check the registration of the qualification and the institution in its country of origin.
You can also approach SAQA to ask them if a particular qualification would be recognised
for further study in South Africa and if so at which level – they may need you to get more
details from the other institution to do this. They will not be able to do this for you if the other
qualification or institution is not registered or accredited by a recognised body in its country
of origin.
To teach on an accredited Higher Education qualification one is required to hold a qualification a
level higher than the one on which you teach in a similar and/or relevant area. It is worth checking
if this standard is adhered to. It is also worth checking whether lecturers have any experience in the
industry that they are lecturing about.

Please ensure you visit the campus that you intend to study at before registering. The physical
evidence of the campus in terms of buildings, geography, security, staff, classrooms, libraries
and facilities is also evidence of quality. It will also give you an opportunity to observe the
overall environment.
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