Higher Education Qualifications Framework Curriculum Committee Report

1
Higher Education Qualifications Framework
Curriculum Committee Report

• SATN Meeting
• 07 March 2008

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Background to HEQF

• Education White Paper (1997) proposed a single
  qualifications framework for all Higher Education
  promoting articulation and mobility across the
  system, improved access, RPL, multiple entry and
  exit points, etc
• The current Binary System makes a sharp
  distinction between UoT qualifications and Trad.
  University qualifications

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Binary System
D Tech
Doctorate
M Tech
Masters
B Tech
4-year (Professional) Bachelors Degree
Bachelors Honours
National Diploma
Bachelors Degree
National Higher Certificate
National Certificate
UoT
Trad. University
4
Background to the HEQF

• CHE released the New Academic Policy discussion
  document in 2002 (3 tracks).
• 1st draft of the HEQF released in 2004
• CTP (along with other stakeholders) responded by
  September of that year.
• Followed by a series of meetings with the DoE
  (Molapo Qhobela) around issues raised in the CTP
  response.

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CTP Response to HEQF (2004)

• CTP welcomed
• - the 10 level framework, single track
• - the discontinuance of the BTech,
• - a single descriptor for masters degrees,
• - no certificates less that 120 credits,
• - the nested approach
• CTP opposed
• - 360 credit allocation at L6 for the diploma,
• - pitching the professional degree at L7

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CTP Response, ctd

• CTP raised concerns about
• - lack of articulation possibilities,
• - lack of early exit points,
• - lack of explicit statements on WIL,
• - lack of any reference to provisioning

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DoEs Position

• The HEQF does not focus on current realities but
  rather proposes a stable HE framework for future
  use. The framework is forward looking and not
  aimed at accommodating the present.
• The CTP needs to consider whether the framework
  meets the needs of the HE system as a whole
  rather than focus on a particular section of the
  system.
• The HEQF is not about provisioning or programmes
  but about qualification types.
• The HEQF provides space for UoTs to rethink
  their current qualifications.

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Background (ctd)

• Draft 2 released in August 2006 for limited but
  focused consultation
• Minimal changes to previous draft
• UoT inputs included in a HESA response
• HEQF finally gazetted on 05 October 2007

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Any significant changes?

• Articulation between Advanced Diploma and
  Postgraduate Diploma
• Any or all credits for an incomplete
  qualification may be recognized as meeting the
  requirements of a different qualification.

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HEQF October 2007
Doctoral Degree (360) Min 360_at_10
10
Masters Degree (180) Min 120_at_9
9
professional Bachelors Degree (480) Min
120_at_7 Min 96_at_8 Max 96_at_5
Postgraduate Diploma (120)
Bachelor Honours Degree (120)
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Postgraduate
Advanced Diploma (120)
Bachelors Degree (360) Min 120_at_7 Max 96_at_5
7
Advanced Certificate (120)
Diploma (360) Min 60_at_7 Max 120_at_5
6
Higher Certificate (120)
5
Undergraduate
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Concerns

• No statement on provisioning to enable UoT
  qualifications to be easily mapped onto the HEQF
  Hence 2 interpretations
• All qualification types are available to all HE
  institutions, which places the sector in a strong
  position to review the current Diplomas and BTech
  degrees to be offered as career focused B degrees
  and Professional B degrees respectively
• OR
• 2. The HEQF favours traditional university type
  qualifications and the UoTs current
  qualifications are relegated to lower levels on
  the NQF. (UoTs become bedrock institutions
  offering diplomas at L6, with BTechs becoming
  advanced diplomas at L7)

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Current Realities Limiting UoT Options

• In terms of approved UoT enrolment targets
• - headcount enrolments in undergraduate
  diplomas-
• lower limit 74-87
• - undergraduate degrees- limit10 - 19 .
• - postgraduate enrolments- upper limit 7.
• Majority of students do not meet admission
  requirements for the degree (80?).
• Offering dual programmes in diploma and degree
  streams will be expensive
• Programme approval process usually requires
  regional clearance

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Impact of HEQF on Postgraduate Programmes

• Students in the Diploma track will take at least
  one more year to progress to post graduate
  studies. (600 credits as opposed to 480 credits
  in the degree track)
• Students with Diplomas articulating to Degree
  track will require at least an additional 18
  months to obtain the degree since
• Maximum of 50 of credits used for one
  qualification can be transferred to another
  qualification. (CAT requirement of the HEQF)

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Way Forward?

• Challenge aspects of the HEQF that hamper
  progression of diploma students to postgraduate
  studies
• - Status of the Diploma
• (suggest a 360 credit Diploma _at_ L7 or a 240
  credit dilopma _at_L6)
• - Credit Accumulation and Transfer
• (suggest a more flexible approach be adopted)
• Institutions will have to make strategic
  decisions about in appropriate PQM that is
  compliant with the HEQF.

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Way Forward

• Need to plan and properly resource the
  curriculation process as the HEQF will have huge
  implications for curriculum development at UoTs.
  Curriculum committee can play a coordinating
  role.
• Need to urgently engage the DoE on issues
  relating to
• - transitional arrangements,
• - programme approval,
• - implementation logistics (combining classes)
• - articulation and progression
• - early exit points
• - Work Integrated Learning