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.
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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).
- 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.
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Application for Registration in the Pilot Phase
- Professional Bodies must meet these carefully designed criteria.
The Issue of a Designation
- Membership Categories do not Constitute a Designation
- Examples of Designations.
- 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
- Avoid generalities
- will be a voluntary aspect of membership
- Inevitable considering public trust of Profession
- Consider the relationship to SACANSP
- Focus on Nuclear Physics training
- Broader in one aspect as it includes teachers, students and other SAIP members.
- Would have a distinctive appellation
- SACNASP currently does not maintain its designation.
- We want to elevate the public trust in Nuclear practitioners.
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