Short Courses and Skills Programmes

Information provided by SAQA

Short course provisioning is one of the most dynamic features of South Africa’s emerging education and training system. These courses are particularly associated with ‘just in time’, and ‘just enough’ learning to meet specific needs in workplace environments. This approach is a viable and common method for optimal workplace functioning in many contexts. It makes access to learning manageable, and saves the employers and the employees money, time, energy and resources.

In essence, a short course is a type of short learning programme through which a learner may or may not be awarded credits, depending on the purpose of the programme. A Credit-bearing short course is a type of short learning programme for which credits, in relation to the course’s contribution to a particular programme, unit standard and/or (part) qualification, is are awarded. (Paraphrased from CHE, 2001:44). A credit-bearing short course contains less than 120 credits. An example is skills programmes leading to the achievement of credits in relation to a qualification.

A Non-credit-bearing short course is a type of short learning programme for which no credits are awarded in relation to unit standards or (part) qualifications depending on the purpose and/or assessment of the programme. An example is programmes where less than 1 credit can be awarded.

Relationship between a short course and a skills programme

A skills programme is occupationally based and when completed will constitute credits towards a qualification registered in terms of the National Qualifications Framework. Provisioning is undertaken by a training provider accredited by an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body (Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998). A skills programme is a type of short learning programme.

In the new approach to education and training, short course provisioning has a particular place in the system and is important in the development, up-skilling and multi-skilling of human resources. Because short course provisioning occurs in all education and training sectors and bands, it needs to be subject to the same accreditation and quality assurance processes. Quality assured short course providers and programmes will support and enhance the achievement of the NQF objectives. Among the many benefits to be gained from a coherent approach to the quality assurance of short course providers are:

• Quality assurance will enhance the articulation possibilities and mobility of learners within education and training by ensuring that short learning programmes are credit bearing and that the learning is portable.
• Quality assured short learning programmes will provide learners with flexible pathways to achieving education and training qualifications
• Education and Training Quality Assurance Bodies (ETQAs) will quality assure short learning programmes and so protect learners who acquire education and training by these means
• Short learning programmes will be developed and delivered to enable a ‘seamless’ system of access and articulation with other education and training programmes
• The dynamic nature of short learning programmes will increasingly support the setting of standards and the development and review of qualifications

Short course provisioning is seen as a necessary and flexible tool to support the Human Resource Development (HRDS) and National Skills Development Strategies (NSDS). These have as their objectives the development of people to meet the imperatives of an increasingly globalised society and the demands of the twenty-first century workplace.

For more information visit www.saqa.org.za