All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
Occupational Certificate: Governance Professional |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
118115 | Occupational Certificate: Governance Professional | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
DQP - Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa CSSA | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
- | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
Occupational Certificate | Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies | Public Administration | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 156 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 08 | Regular-ELOAC |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Registered | EXCO 0522/24 | 2021-03-25 | 2025-12-31 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-12-31 | 2029-12-31 |
In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification replaces: |
Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
60651 | Professional Qualification: Management and Administration | Level 5 | NQF Level 06 | 129 | Complete |
60653 | Professional Qualification: Governance and Administration | Level 5 | NQF Level 06 | 130 | Complete |
60655 | Professional Advanced Qualification: Governance and Administration | Level 6 | NQF Level 07 | 120 | Complete |
60654 | Professional Post-Graduate Qualification: Company Secretarial and Governance Practice | Level 7 | NQF Level 08 | 120 | Complete |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Governance Professional. A governance professional is responsible for leading and advising key stakeholders on best practice in governance, risk management and compliance; championing the compliance framework to safeguard organisational integrity; promoting and acting as a 'sounding board' on standards of ethical corporate behaviour; and balancing the interests of the board (or governing body), management and other stakeholders. Governance professionals have a significant impact on the level and quality of corporate governance and governance culture within an organisation, and play a pivotal role in assisting the board or governing body to achieve the organisation's vision and strategy. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: This qualification is designed to meet the need for corporate governance professionals who can work in public and private sector organisations in South Africa. The qualification is also suitable for professionals in other fields, senior managers and executive and non-executive directors of companies who carry responsibility in terms of corporate governance. In addition, the qualification provides an alternative learning pathway to learners enrolled in the Occupational Certificate: Company Secretary. This alternative route is specifically suitable for learners who work in the public sector or who do not have access to company secretarial work experience as required by the Occupational Certificate: Company Secretary. Governance professionals work alongside company secretaries or take responsibility for corporate governance in organisations that are not obliged to appoint company secretaries. This qualification was developed in close co-operation with Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA), the professional body for company secretaries and governance professionals in Southern Africa. It was also designed to meet the qualification standards set by the Professional Standards Committee of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), which consists of subject matter experts from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Malaysia. These qualification standards are implemented by the professional bodies of these countries and adherence to these standards assisted in aligning this qualification to international best practice. Successful learners will be prepared for employment at senior levels in organisations and will be able to undertake leadership roles with confidence, to understand and advise on legal and governance matters and to contribute to strategic planning within the entities where they work. This qualification is of critical importance for the South African economy. Good corporate governance in both the private and public sectors is at the heart of continued domestic and foreign investment, which in turn is a prerequisite for economic growth and job creation. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 89 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 34 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 33 |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Apply the concepts of corporate governance and best governance practice within a corporate or public-sector environment.
2. Assess factors that create possible barriers within corporate governance structures. 3. Solve corporate governance problems according to best practices. 4. Develop and monitor corporate governance processes and systems with regard to risk management, compliance and financial reporting. 5. Conduct research on corporate governance scenarios to provide stakeholders (including directors, executive management, shareholders and suppliers) solutions and alternatives to inform best practice within the organisation. 6. Mitigate risks in the context of good governance. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Integrated Assessment: Integrated Formative Assessment: The skills development providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment. Integrated Summative Assessment: An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The Occupational Certificate: Company Secretary (Governance Professional) has been compared to qualifications in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Australia.
United Kingdom: The University of Edinburgh offers a Postgraduate Course in Corporate Governance. The qualification is delivered over a year with theory and practical. It has both summative/final theory examination and practical assessment conducted throughout the year. The qualification covers the following areas: Australia: Governance Institute of Australia offers a Post Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance. The Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance provides the qualifying learner with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in good governance. This qualification leads to becoming an internationally recognised Chartered Secretary. The qualification follows a public or private sector stream. Modules specific for Private sector stream: Modules specific for Public sector stream: Modules applicable to both streams: Conclusion: The Occupational Certificate: Governance Professional compares well to the qualifications mentioned above in terms of the subject matter covered and relevant applied skills needed in the workplace. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification provides horizontal and vertical articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
N/A |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
N/A |
NOTES |
Qualifying for External Assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records including the Foundational Learning Competence. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers: Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code is: Governance Professional: 242203-001-01-00. Encompassed Trades: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Assessment Quality Partner (DQP): Related Part-Qualification: |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification. |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
NONE |
All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |