Board and Management
Executive Office
The Executive Office:
- Establishes partnerships to ensure systemic co-ordination, coherence and resource alignment to the benefit of learners, in line with the national Human Resource Development Strategy
- Ensures that policy makers recognise and value the role of SAQA and the NQF in the establishment of recognised learning and career path systems
- Facilitates informed decision-making and good governance through the organisation, management and dissemination of high quality information to the Board and its committees
The following ten directorates/units enable SAQA to execute its mandate:
The core functions of the Directorate for Registration and Recognition are to:
- Register qualifications and part-qualifications recommended by the Quality Councils for registration on the NQF
- Re-register qualifications and part-qualifications recommended by the Quality Councils if they still meet the policy and criteria for registration on the NQF
- Recognise statutory and non-statutory professional bodies, and register their professional designations for the purposes of the NQF
- Monitor recognised professional bodies to ensure compliance with the policy and criteria for recognition
- Conduct and facilitate workshops and forums for prospective and recognised professional bodies, respectively
The core functions of the Directorate for Registration and Recognition are to:
- Register qualifications and part-qualifications recommended by the Quality Councils for registration on the NQF
- Re-register qualifications and part-qualifications recommended by the Quality Councils if they still meet the policy and criteria for registration on the NQF
- Recognise statutory and non-statutory professional bodies, and register their professional designations for the purposes of the NQF
- Monitor recognised professional bodies to ensure compliance with the policy and criteria for recognition
- Conduct and facilitate workshops and forums for prospective and recognised professional bodies, respectively
The Directorate for Foreign Qualifications Evaluation and Advisory Services is responsible for the:
- Evaluation of foreign qualifications
- Provision of advisory services on related matters, such as the status of foreign institutions
People who wish to enter the South African labour market based on work visas must apply to SAQA to have their qualifications evaluated. Evaluation may also be required for further studies and professional licensing. Click here to access the online application platform.
The Directorate for Foreign Qualifications Evaluation and Advisory Services is responsible for the:
- Evaluation of foreign qualifications
- Provision of advisory services on related matters, such as the status of foreign institutions
People who wish to enter the South African labour market based on work visas must apply to SAQA to have their qualifications evaluated. Evaluation may also be required for further studies and professional licensing. Click here to access the online application platform.
The National Learners` Records Database (NLRD) Directorate is responsible for the management information system of the NQF. The NLRD holds the following records of education and training:
- Qualifications and part-qualifications (including unit standards) registered on the NQF
- Individual learners and their achievements
- Information about NQF Sub-Frameworks and their related Quality Councils
- Organising fields and subfields of the NQF
- Recognised professional bodies and registered professional designations
- Accredited quality-assurance bodies and their accredited providers
- Registered assessors
The NLRD provides decision-makers with comprehensive information about trends in education and training, and labour market.
The National Learners` Records Database (NLRD) Directorate is responsible for the management information system of the NQF. The NLRD holds the following records of education and training:
- Qualifications and part-qualifications (including unit standards) registered on the NQF
- Individual learners and their achievements
- Information about NQF Sub-Frameworks and their related Quality Councils
- Organising fields and subfields of the NQF
- Recognised professional bodies and registered professional designations
- Accredited quality-assurance bodies and their accredited providers
- Registered assessors
The NLRD provides decision-makers with comprehensive information about trends in education and training, and labour market.
The Advocacy, Communication and Support (ACS) Directorate is responsible for informing the public about the NQF. To achieve this, the Directorate:
- Develops strategies and implements plans to ensure the optimisation of advocacy and communication
- Provides NQF information through the SAQA website and the SAQA Resource and Information Centre
- Facilitates engagement with the public through traditional and new media
- Conducts events, exhibitions, conferences and other similar activities
- Works with NQF partners such as the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Basic Education, the Quality Councils and SETAs
- Undertakes market research and regular assessments of the impact of the advocacy and communication interventions
Additionally, the ACS Directorate is the custodian of customer service standards for SAQA and assists in resolving complaints and facilitates the promotion of excellent customer service. You can see more about customer service.
The Advocacy, Communication and Support (ACS) Directorate is responsible for informing the public about the NQF. To achieve this, the Directorate:
- Develops strategies and implements plans to ensure the optimisation of advocacy and communication
- Provides NQF information through the SAQA website and the SAQA Resource and Information Centre
- Facilitates engagement with the public through traditional and new media
- Conducts events, exhibitions, conferences and other similar activities
- Works with NQF partners such as the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Basic Education, the Quality Councils and SETAs
- Undertakes market research and regular assessments of the impact of the advocacy and communication interventions
Additionally, the ACS Directorate is the custodian of customer service standards for SAQA and assists in resolving complaints and facilitates the promotion of excellent customer service. You can see more about customer service.
The International Liaison Directorate has the broad vision of developing capacity within SAQA to increasingly collaborate with international partners on all matters of mutual interest concerning national and/or regional qualifications frameworks. The Directorate has the following objectives:
- To actively contribute to the development of qualifications frameworks internationally
- To identify and contribute to new and critical thinking related to qualifications frameworks
- To reflect on international best practice to inform the further development and implementation of the South African NQF
Click here for more information about the projects the International Liaison Directorate has been working on.
The International Liaison Directorate has the broad vision of developing capacity within SAQA to increasingly collaborate with international partners on all matters of mutual interest concerning national and/or regional qualifications frameworks. The Directorate has the following objectives:
- To actively contribute to the development of qualifications frameworks internationally
- To identify and contribute to new and critical thinking related to qualifications frameworks
- To reflect on international best practice to inform the further development and implementation of the South African NQF
Click here for more information about the projects the International Liaison Directorate has been working on.
The Research Directorate is responsible for a research and development strategy, which produces and distributes up-to-date information and knowledge for the benefit of SAQA`s strategic partners and the education and training sector at large. Over the past few years, the Directorate was responsible for a number of research projects including the development of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Click here for more information.
The Research Directorate is responsible for a research and development strategy, which produces and distributes up-to-date information and knowledge for the benefit of SAQA`s strategic partners and the education and training sector at large. Over the past few years, the Directorate was responsible for a number of research projects including the development of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Click here for more information.
The Human Resources Directorate`s main responsibility is attending to human resources related issues within SAQA. This includes managing the following functions:
- Recruitment, selection, and placement
- Training and development
- Policies and procedures governing all HR matters
- Labour relations
- Health and safety
- Career counselling
- Personnel administration
The Directorate also monitors SAQA`s Employment Equity targets, reviews job descriptions and profiles, and Workplace Skills plans.
The Human Resources Directorate`s main responsibility is attending to human resources related issues within SAQA. This includes managing the following functions:
- Recruitment, selection, and placement
- Training and development
- Policies and procedures governing all HR matters
- Labour relations
- Health and safety
- Career counselling
- Personnel administration
The Directorate also monitors SAQA`s Employment Equity targets, reviews job descriptions and profiles, and Workplace Skills plans.
The Information Technology Directorate is responsible for the management, support and maintenance of all SAQA information technology resources. This includes the management of service level agreements that are concluded with external service providers.
The Information Technology Directorate is responsible for the management, support and maintenance of all SAQA information technology resources. This includes the management of service level agreements that are concluded with external service providers.
The Finance and Administration Directorate manages the financial affairs of SAQA including the allocation of resources and the accounting, reporting, and control of income and expenditures. It also provides contract management advisory and consultation services and manages activities involving the delivery of administrative services to SAQA. The management of the SAQA premises also falls within the responsibility of this Directorate.
The Finance and Administration Directorate manages the financial affairs of SAQA including the allocation of resources and the accounting, reporting, and control of income and expenditures. It also provides contract management advisory and consultation services and manages activities involving the delivery of administrative services to SAQA. The management of the SAQA premises also falls within the responsibility of this Directorate.
The Verifications Project renders the following verification of national qualification service to employers, learners and various other clients:
- Pre-appointment verification of qualifications for employers
- Post-appointment verification of qualifications for existing employees
- Individual verification letters for employment or immigration purposes
- Extracts from the National Learners’ Records Database indicating the individual’s records
Click here to access the verifications services.
The Verifications Project renders the following verification of national qualification service to employers, learners and various other clients:
- Pre-appointment verification of qualifications for employers
- Post-appointment verification of qualifications for existing employees
- Individual verification letters for employment or immigration purposes
- Extracts from the National Learners’ Records Database indicating the individual’s records
Click here to access the verifications services.
