WHY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROVIDERS SHOULD LEVERAGE DEDICATED ACCREDITED ASSESSMENT CENTRES
The South African skills development landscape is undergoing a major transformation. Legacy qualifications are being phased out, and all qualification accreditation will shift to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) by July 1st, 2024. This has significantly intensified pressure on Skills Development Providers (SDPs) to adapt and remain competitive. Obtaining QCTO accreditation has become an urgent priority for most SDPs to ensure their financial viability. It is important for SDPs to focus on navigating the QCTO's accreditation policies and requirements to secure their place in the evolving training landscape
A noteworthy change under the new QCTO delivery process is where SDPs could traditionally manage the full scope of their training projects from beginning to end encompassing training, assessment, and moderation; the QCTO landscape has a clear divide between training delivery and the final assessment and moderation process.
Under QCTO accreditation, the traditionally known FISA (Final Integrated Summative Assessment) will now be an EISA (External Integrated Summative Assessment) and may only be conducted by an external QCTO accredited assessment centre. Once an SDP has confirmed that their learners are ready for their EISA, the QCTO shall appoint an independent assessment centre where the learner will need to complete their EISA.
This may result in concerns for SDPs that deliver training projects for their clients such as learnerships where delivery times and learner completion are directly linked to B-BBEE targets or 12h tax incentives as they will no longer be able to manage the close-out phase of such projects themselves.
The role of quality assessment centres has therefore become increasingly important for SDPs and the decision to partner with a dedicated assessment centre like EISA Hub, can be pivotal in ensuring that their own project milestones are met efficiently.
Additional benefits to SDPs include:
Reduced Cost and Streamlined Operations: Maintaining an in-house assessment and moderation department requires significant investment in infrastructure, staff training, and ongoing audits. Partnering with a dedicated assessment centre eliminates these costs, allowing providers to focus their resources on core training delivery.
Expertise and Efficiency: Dedicated assessment centres like the EISA Hub specialise in the EISA process. They have a team of experienced assessors and moderators and streamlined procedures, ensuring consistent, high-quality assessments aligned with QCTO requirements. This translates to faster turnaround times thereby ensuring that SDPs meet their own project milestones.
Focus on Training Delivery: By outsourcing assessments, providers can allocate more resources to their core competency - delivering exceptional training programs. This allows them to stay updated on industry trends, adapt their offerings to meet evolving learner needs, and remain competitive within their market.
Scalability and Flexibility: Dedicated assessment centres can accommodate fluctuating assessment demands. Providers can scale their assessment needs up or down without having to invest in additional infrastructure or staff.
National Reach: Assessment centres like EISA Hub have a national network of assessment locations, making it more convenient for learners across different regions to access assessments without the need for SDPs to establish multiple venues.
Focus on Training Accreditation: Navigating the assessment accreditation process can be complex and time-consuming and may certainly not be a priority for many SDPs currently as their focus should remain on accreditation and extension of training scope for their training offering.
In conclusion, the collaboration between SDPs and dedicated assessment centres like EISA Hub represents a strategic move towards enhancing the quality and effectiveness of skills development assessments. It allows SDPs to leverage the expertise, efficiency, and comprehensive services of these centres, ultimately benefiting the learners and the industry as a whole. By choosing this path, SDPs can ensure that they remain competitive and relevant in the dynamic field of skills development.
Should you wish to engage with us or have any questions, please reach out to us: info@eisahub.co.za
