Historical Introduction - The Skills shortage, the new role for PCs
- The Minister - DHET - requested meetings with the statutory and non-statutory professional councils (PCs) of SA - starting April 2011 - see a Typical invitation letter
- One important goal was to promote a massive enhancement of the development of skills without compromising quality (contribute to the National Skills Development Strategy III)
- The Ministers Speech at this meeting on the 3 May 2011 introduced game changing ideas for the professional councils and it was clearly preceeded by at least a decade of careful study and preparation.
- PCs would form a vital part of the data gathering on the supply of and demand for skills.
- PCs woud play a role at broadening both access to and sites of training.
- PCs would acquire / develop their role in standard setting, programme accreditation and professional registration.
- This meant the PCs would have a massively overhauled role in the delivery to the National Skills Development Strategy III - practically ....
- PCs would have more powers
- PCs would have more responsibilities
- PCs would have more relevance
- PCs would then need funding
- PCs would then need a registration process and regulation.
- South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has now a new role (NQF Act of 2008) - to register Professional Bodies.
- There are also three quality councils in South Africa, namely the Council on Higher Education (CHE), the Quality Council on Trade and Occupations (QCTO) and UMALUSI.
- However, we see a substantially more significant role developing for Professional Bodies in the Quality System too.
- What is a working definition of a Professional Body ?
- A group of people in a specific regulated occupation who, secondly,
- are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation and, thirdly,
- have a significant influence on education linked to the professions, and ultimately
- have the final say as to who it will register as one of its own and who it will reject.
- the definition further includes non-profit organizations, existing to further a particular profession and to protect members of the public as well as interests of its own members.
- The Ministers talk represents a strong exhortation for PCs to partner with it toward the goals of the National Skills Development Strategy III.
- The South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) is therefore an example of what could be registered as a Professional Body.
- Please note that this is an evolving area, and professional councils are invited to partner with the DHET in exploring it.
- The notes from Simon after attending the Ministers Speech.
Go back to the top of the page
SAQA manages the process
- SAQA conducted a National Roadshow to discuss the implementation with PCs (see the initial announcement and the invitation and invitation 2 to SAIP).
- This matter was discussed in Council. The Minutes of the 193rd SAIP Council Meeting of 2 July 2011 - Action 193/05 record that : SAIP application for Professional Body Status at SAQA. SAIP to attend the Pretoria meeting to gain information as to how the SAIP can position itself, and apply for Professional Body Status.
- Accordingly, Council has attendance at the SAQA Roadshow sessions as follows -
- SH Connell, J Nel, T Konrad and B Masara - Pretoria 29 July
- P Martinez - Cape Town 27 July
- Brian prepares the Motivation Document Role of SAIP in Skills Development which indicates the SAIP contribution to the intentions of this SAQA managed process to delivery within the National Skills Development Strategy III.
- The following documents were pertinent to the SAQA Roadshow meeting
- Policy and criteria for recognising a professional body and registering a professional designation for the purposes of the National Qualifications Framework Act of 2008.
- We recognized a close correlation between the policies and criteria in the document and those of the SAIP.
- We recognized that the already established Constitution, Mission, Vision, projects, and other features of the SAIP corresponded closely with the "Criteria for recognising a professional body".
- Slides presented on the "Recognition of professional bodies and registration of professional designations"
- SH Connell's notes following this meeting.
- SACNASP document : Framework for the Identification of Work for Persons Registered in Terms of the Natural Science Professions Act, 2003
- It is clear that PB status will ultimately become essential to be relevant and fundable.
Go back to the top of the page
SAIP applies for Registration in the Pilot Phase
- Council holds an electronic meeting on the following Proposals
- SAIP register as a Professional Body with SAQA
- SAIP do this by Aug 15th in the Pilot Phase
- SAIP register its Designation - Member of SAIP
The meeting agenda, documentation and resolution are available in the SAIP Website INDICO system
here.
- Professional Bodies must meet these carefully designed criteria.
- Following e-mail discussion the SAIP Council put SAIP forward in the pilot phase believing we already qualified us to an almost complete extent. There is a pilot phase to test the process, this will involve learning on both sides.
- SAIP submission Application for registration as a professional body in during pilot phase.
- The SAIP becomes one of ten PCs from that are accepted from a field of 74 into the Pilot Registration Process - acceptance notification.
- Over the course of meetings and discussion, SAQA and SAIP probe together the case for SAIP to be registered as a Professional Body.
- The SAIP Constitution was singled out for praise as being exceptionally well crafted.
- There was development on the Membership Database to ensure our capacity to deliver on the reporting requirements.
- A more detailed Financial Viability model was presented
- The Code of Conduct and the procedures for dealing with a breach were pointed out.
- The Membership form was revised to include a sign-off indicating familiarity with the Constitution and By Laws.
- The Specialization within the SAIP represented by the Forums, Divisions and Committees of Council were commended
- A deal breaker ultimately emerged - the Membership Categories did not Constitute a Designation
- Notification from SAQA to SAIP regarding the necessity for development of a Designation
The Issue of a SAIP Designation
- There are three non-negotiables related to the Designation in order for SAIP (the SAQA Board will sit in March) as a Professional Body to go through
- We must produce a document by the end of February that describes
- The Designation(s) title
- The system of Continuos Professional Development (CPD)
- Implementation of this within one year
- Code of Ethics (the one we have is acceptable)
- We are not alone here, consider many other IoPs around the world.
- Designation
- must be characterized by standards
- must be regularly scrutinised
- must be acquired and retained or maintained - reflecting standards that one needs to comly with.
- there is the concept of the measurables
- different to recognition of a supreme achievement - (such as a Lifetime Achievement Award).
- a designation is related to the Profession
- For example, The CPD policy of ECSA has a point system, and one can acquire points by Conference Attendance, Outputs in an Academic Category, etc
- Avoid generalities
- will be a voluntary aspect of membership
- Inevitable considering public trust of Profession
- Consider the relationship to SACANSP
- Focus on Physics
- Broader in one aspect as it includes teachers, students and other SAIP members.
- Would use the term "Physicist" which is distinct from SACNASP.
- SACNASP currently does not maintain its designation.
- The SAIP wants to promote egalitarianism within its membership
- We want to elevate the concept of Physicist as something that gives value to society and is something that one can aspire to (Doctor, Engineer Accountant ….)
- Igle's Notes on the designation issue
- Preliminary Notes on the SAIP Designation
- Realtionship to SACNASP
- Minutes of the SAIP-SACNASP Meeting of 17/2/2012
The discussion is continuing.
Go back to the top of the page
