The Unversity of South Africa (UNISA) issued a statement on October 11 regarding changes the university is making to its 2020 qualification programme. During the recent UNISA application window for the 2020 academic year, many students were bemoaning the fact that they were not able to apply for certain qualifications.
This was especially apparent when it came to students looking to apply for BTech qualifications. Yet for those in the know, this was not exactly new news as this has been public news since 2016.
On 6 July 2016, Dr. Blade Nzimande announced that qualifications not aligned to the HEQSF will not be made available to new students from 31 December 2019 and onwards. This essentially means that non-HEQSF aligned qualifications will phase out, leaving students unable to study certain qualifications across the country.
There’s good news on the horizon though…
The ruling largely affected National Diploma and BTech qualifications, eliminating a large portion of UNISA’s Science and Engineering qualifications. This is unfortunate news to those who were seeking to do a National Diploma or a BTech qualification at UNISA. However, students already registered for a non-HEQSF qualification need not worry any further.
Registered students for non-HEQSF aligned qualifications can still continue and complete their course – unless they prefer transferring to a new aligned qualification. Registered students can also complete their course as per the teach-out plans for each qualification.
However, students might not have to worry about not being able to study qualifications that are falling away. UNISA is planning to introduce new HEQSF-aligned replacement qualifications which will become available for viewing on the UNISA website.
Proposed New HEQSF-aligned Qualifications
The proposed qualifications that UNISA may introduce in time for the 2020 academic year are as follows:
- Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering in Power Engineering. (Estimated to be introduced in S2 of 2020);
- Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering in Telecommunications (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Master of Arts in Security Management (Estimated TBI in 2020); and
- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (Estimated TBI in 2020).
Qualifications still awaiting NQF qualification registration but not open for applications as yet include:
- Higher Certificate in Mathematics and Statistics (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Diploma in Chemical Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Advanced Diploma in Industrial Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Advanced Diploma in Mining Engineering (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Master of Science in Information Resource Management (Estimated TBI in 2021)
- Master of Engineering (Estimated TBI in 2021)
- Bachelor of Commerce in Law (Estimated TBI in S2 of 2020);
- Diploma in Safety Management (Estimated TBI in 2020)
- Bachelor of Education Honours (Estimated TBI in 2020)
Finalization of the accreditation process will lead to more qualifications opening up for application and registration. Students will have to keep an eye out on further news on extra replacement qualifications offered by UNISA for the 2020 academic year via their website.
Also Read: UNISA Short Courses 2020
Published: 16 October 2019
