Re-accreditation Workshop

1. Re-accreditation Workshop Private Higher Education Institutions 6 August 2008

2. Purpose of the Workshop • The HEQC and the accreditation of programmes • Background to the re-accreditation process • Engaging private HEIs in the process • Procedures and time-frames • Site visits • HEQC On-line application

3. The re-accreditation process • HEQC is responsible for the accreditation of higher education institutions as education and training providers. • And for the accreditation of HE programmes. • The Framework for Programme Accreditation (CHE, November 2004) provides for the re-accreditation of existing institutions and programmes. • Twelve months before the end of each accreditation cycle, institutions are required to apply for re-accreditation. • To enable the Registrar of Private Higher Education Institutions to evaluate the re-accreditation reports, the HEQC is required to submit these reports to the Registrar six months before the end of the cycle.

4. Guiding principles for accreditation • Academic programmes in higher education should be of acceptable quality, and should meet minimum standards of quality. • The primary responsibility for the quality of programmes rests with HEIs themselves. • Responsibility of the HEQC is to provide a value-adding external system of programme accreditation and quality assurance. • The HEQC uses a system of peer and expert review to ensure credible and consistent programme evaluations. • Re-accreditation forms part of this process. • HEQC has developed a form of application for re-accreditation that builds on the initial accreditation.

5. The aim of the application form • To enable institutions to demonstrate that they meet all of the re-accreditation criteria. • The form is designed in such a way that new information submitted can augment, and be read in the light of, information submitted during the initial process of accreditation. • Particular emphasis is placed on developments within the institution since the first submission for initial accreditation, in terms of policy, procedures and practice. • Initial accreditation emphasized input criteria. • Re-accreditation extends to process, output and impact criteria.

6. Process, output and impact criteria • Programme coordination. • Academic development for student success. • Teaching and learning interactions. • Assessment practices. • Coordination of work-based learning. • Student retention and throughput rates. • Programme impact (employability, external acknowledgement). Additional information required for post-graduate programmes (supervision, research capacity).

7. Application form • Two sections. • Section 1: institutional profile. • Section 1 to be completed only once. • Section 2: programme information. • Section 2 to be completed for each programme submitted. • Separate information required for each site of delivery (e.g., programme coordination, staffing, student numbers, teaching venues). • Evaluation will be evidence-based: completeness of the submission is very important. • All relevant documentation (policies, procedures) needs to be included in the application.

8. Section 1: Institutional profile • Name of institution as it appears on all legal correspondence and as registered by DoE. • Details of accountable persons: • Institutional Head • Academic Head • Registrar or Administrative Head. • Sites/additional sites of delivery: as much information as possible must be provided. • Details of other registrations: DoE, professional bodies.

9. Section 1: Institutional profile • Names of all programmes (as accredited). • Conditions set by the HEQC. • Evidence of how these conditions were met. • Policies and procedures for meeting institutional mission, purpose and targets set. • Staff and student statistics (including equity and related issues). • Infrastructure and improvements for the benefit of staff and students since initial accreditation. • Site ownership or details of lease agreements. • Library, IT and laboratory facilities.

10. Section 2: Programme • Each programme needs a separate Section 2, with specified information per site of delivery. • Provide details of SAQA registration per programme. • Programme design: precise details required regarding modules/units; fundamental, core, elective components; SAQA credits; time allocation, etc.). • Programme coordination refers to academic coordination. • Full details of staff involvement in programme design and delivery. • Admission requirements (including RPL): how they address the needs of the programme, and the mission and goals of the institution. • Teaching and learning: provide narrative on staff and student involvement; improvements made.

11. Section 2: Programme • Assessment: policies and precedures are vey important. • Describe all aspects of assessment: • Forms of assessment • Feedback to students • Internal moderation • External examination/moderation • Dispute resolution • Staff development in assessment • Assessment practices and throughput rates.

12. Improvements since initial accreditation • Include all reviewed/revised and newly-developed policy and procedure documents. • Provide details (whenever relevant) of how institutional policies and procedures affect each programme. • Rather an over-supply of documents than gaps. • Identifying areas of good practice and areas in need of further improvement: allow for honest self-evaluation.