SAQA has unveiled a digital certificate

SAQA has unveiled a digital certificate

Saqa has unveiled a digital certificate to help students with foreign qualifications by reducing the time it takes to get the outcome of an evaluation,Digital  Certificate of Evaluation reduces the lead time it takes to reach the qualification holder because it can be shared in real – time and can be verified in real-time as evidence to support  applications for further studies, visas, employment, registration and /or

professional licensing in South Africa.

South African National Qualification Framework

Saqa CEO Joe Samuels said is the first qualification authority in the world to launch such a digital certificate in one -year pilot project. As part of its mandate,Saqa evaluates foreign qualifications and compares them to national qualifications by locating them within the South African National Qualification Framework. The NQF Act 67 of 2008 the mandate to provide an evaluation and advisory service for foreign qualifications consistent with the act.The digital certificate comes with a digital seal and hyperlinked digital certificates ,confirming the information in the paper -based certificates.

The digital seal and certificates make use of a secure link to the Saqa database, where all evaluation outcomes are stored and confirmed. Saqa survey showed that 76% holders of digital certificates had been accepted by the institutions and 68% said it was easy for them to get the certificates and be able to use them.The survey also showed that more than 50% use the digital certificates to further their studies, while 28% use them to complete visa applications. Samuels said the digatal certificate would reduce the issue of misrepresentation of qualifications and fraud.

Saqa CEO said he hope Saqa would be able to move permanently to the digital space, this development builds on the effort Saqa has to ensure quicker evaluation of foreign qualifications through the establishment of the African Qualifications Verification Network in 2016,as well as the Southern African Development Community Qualifications Verification Network in 2017 and Saqa’s ongoing work with members of the Groningen Declaration Network. Read More