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Prepare your higher education programme, academic systems, qualified staff and supporting evidence for accreditation by the Council on Higher Education.
CHE accreditation is the formal evaluation of a higher education programme against the standards and programme-accreditation criteria of the Higher Education Quality Committee. The HEQC is a permanent committee of the Council on Higher Education and performs quality-assurance functions within South Africa’s higher education system.
Accreditation confirms that a particular programme meets the applicable minimum standards for a stipulated period. It is not a general approval allowing an institution to offer any higher education programme it chooses. Each programme must be properly designed, resourced and submitted for evaluation.
Nelson Academic Accreditation helps prospective private higher education institutions understand the regulatory route, review programme readiness and prepare the supporting evidence required for an application. Our education accreditation consultants can help coordinate the academic, institutional and administrative components of the process.
CHE accreditation is one part of the approval framework for a private higher education institution. It should not be confused with institutional registration by the Department of Higher Education and Training or qualification registration on the National Qualifications Framework.
A programme may therefore need CHE accreditation, inclusion on the NQF through the relevant registration process and approval under the institution’s DHET registration. Accreditation does not replace institutional registration.
Prospective institutions should plan these connected processes carefully. Our guide to DHET college registration in South Africa explains the institutional registration component in more detail.
The programme-accreditation application must demonstrate that the proposed programme is academically coherent, properly governed and adequately resourced. The exact evidence depends on the qualification type, level, field and mode of provision, but the evaluation can consider:
The application must be evidence-based. Policies and descriptions should be supported by curriculum documents, staff records, budgets, agreements, academic structures and resources that genuinely exist or will be available when the programme is implemented.
The curriculum should demonstrate a logical relationship between the qualification purpose, exit-level outcomes, module outcomes, teaching activities and assessments. Credit allocation and learning time must be realistic, while the programme’s academic demands must correspond with its intended NQF level.
Academic staff should hold qualifications and possess experience appropriate to the modules they will teach. The institution should be able to show who will lead, coordinate, deliver and assess the programme. Supporting evidence may include CVs, certified qualifications, contracts, workload allocations and professional-registration records where relevant.
The proposed programme should also fit the institution’s mission, academic strategy and governance structure. A strong curriculum submitted by an organisation without the staff, systems or resources to deliver it is unlikely to demonstrate full readiness.
The institution must identify how the programme will be delivered. Applications may cover contact, online or blended provision, but each selected mode requires complete information and supporting evidence.
An institution proposing online or blended delivery should explain its learning platform, digital materials, student orientation, technical support, online assessment controls, lecturer interaction and methods for monitoring participation. It must also demonstrate reasonable parity between modes where the same programme will be delivered in more than one way.
The CHE has specifically warned that merely selecting multiple delivery modes without separately addressing the accreditation criteria for each mode can result in an application being deferred or receiving a negative outcome.
Programme-accreditation applications are submitted through the HEQC-online system. The institution must maintain an accurate institutional profile and appoint an institutional administrator who manages users, begins applications and completes the formal submission.
Before submission, the provider should review every response and annexure against the applicable criteria. Information contained in the application form, institutional profile, curriculum documents, staff records and supporting policies must be consistent.
The evaluation can involve checklist review, academic evaluation, requests for clarification and a site visit where required. An application may be accredited, accredited subject to conditions, deferred for further development or not accredited. No learners should be enrolled into a programme on the assumption that accreditation will automatically be granted.
A prospective provider should begin with a realistic readiness assessment. This should examine the programme concept, academic leadership, curriculum, staffing, financial model, learning resources, student-support systems, premises and intended modes of delivery.
Use our broader accreditation checklist to review your institution’s general readiness before developing the full programme application.
Nelson AA can help your organisation assess its readiness, structure the proposed programme, review the CHE criteria and organise the academic and institutional evidence required for submission.
Contact Nelson Academic Accreditation to discuss your CHE accreditation application in South Africa.
Understand how CHE programme accreditation connects with DHET institutional registration and SAQA qualification registration.
Review your curriculum, academic staffing, assessments, delivery methods and learning resources against the applicable criteria.
Develop a complete, consistent and evidence-based application for submission through the HEQC-online system.
We are one of the few companies who assist with accreditation with the CHE and registration with the DHET for degree level qualifications. We have extensive experience with these applications and coach our clients on what is required to be a Private Higher Institution. Take the opportunity to add articulation to higher education to your programme offerings. Contact us for a free consultation on the criteria and requirements as you prepare to embark on a journey to extend programme offerings to higher education.
When you need to enhance your institutions crdibility, then you need to be accredited with UMALUSI. You will be able to provide validated qualifications,which contribute to the ongoing improvement of education quality and recognition within the country's education landscape. Contact us for all your regulatory compliance and accreditation services.
(QCTO, CHE, Umalusi, Professional body) This process is extensive and can be complex. We have extensive experience in carrying out this process and will ensure that it is done professionally.
CHE accreditation is the evaluation of a higher education programme against the minimum standards and programme-accreditation criteria applied by the Higher Education Quality Committee. Accreditation is granted to a specified programme for a stipulated period.
No. The CHE, through the HEQC, accredits higher education programmes. The DHET registers private higher education institutions. A private institution must meet the relevant registration requirements in addition to obtaining programme accreditation.
No. SAQA registers qualifications and part-qualifications on the NQF following recommendation by the responsible Quality Council. CHE accreditation and NQF registration are connected but distinct regulatory processes.
The evidence may include programme and curriculum documents, institutional policies, academic governance structures, staff CVs and qualifications, assessment plans, learning resources, budgets, student-support procedures and work-integrated learning agreements. Requirements depend on the proposed programme.
Yes. A prospective private higher education institution can prepare programme-accreditation applications as part of the broader process of seeking approval to operate. It must demonstrate credible institutional capacity as well as programme-level readiness.
Programme-accreditation applications are submitted through the HEQC-online system. The institution’s authorised administrator manages its institutional profile, users, applications and formal submissions.
An institution may select more than one mode of provision, but it must provide complete information and evidence showing how each mode separately meets the programme-accreditation criteria. It must also demonstrate appropriate parity across the selected modes.
A site visit may form part of the evaluation where the CHE considers it necessary. Evaluators can verify institutional systems, facilities, learning resources, staff arrangements and other claims made in the application.
There is no universal guaranteed timeframe. The duration depends on application completeness, evaluation schedules, requests for additional information, site visits and whether further development or conditions are required.
No consultant can guarantee an accreditation decision. Nelson AA can help evaluate readiness, prepare the programme and organise supporting evidence, but the final decision remains with the HEQC.
“ Nelson Academic Accreditation’s assistance has been invaluable in getting us through the challenge of SETA accreditation. From the start they have made the process that much easier, with practical assistance to meet the required deadlines on time, seeing the whole process through to completion. ”
Frontline Emergency care
“ Definitely deserves 5 stars. If there is one company you can count on to deliver, it is Nelson Academic Accreditation. We particularly appreciate the Compliance Coaching, Project Timelines and Updates during the Accreditation Application Process. ”
Edu Invest
“ Stephanie has been so incredibly effective. All of our accreditations were processed with the assistance of Stephanie, i.e. ICB, MICT SETA, CHE and City & Guilds. We look forward to working with Nelson Academic Accreditation again. ”
Afritech
“I cannot believe this day has finally come, I actually cried like a baby when I read the letter, didn’t expect such an emotional response. A simple Thank You is not enough to express how grateful we are for your assistance , we would not have been able to get this without yours and your teams help. To us you are Super Stars. Thank you Thank You Thank You”
S.M.A.R.T.
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