SAQA

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: Software Engineer

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119458	Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner-MICT SETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Information Technology and Computer Sciences
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0522/24	2022-08-04	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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Software Engineer.

A Software Engineer researches, analyses, and evaluates requirements for existing or new software applications and designs, develops, deploys, tests within scope of work (debugs) and maintains software applications.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Design software to meet clients' needs.

Design and manipulate databases.

Develop software to add value to the organisation.

Test or debug source code to ensure client's needs are met.

Rationale:
The National Certificate: Information Technology (Systems Development) qualification that is currently registered with the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) is due for realignment. To address this, the Media Information Communication and Technology Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) has initiated the process of realigning this qualification through the Quality Council for Trades and Occupation (QCTO) qualification development model. The need to realign this qualification was further motivated by the fact that there are no registered occupationally based software engineering related qualifications. The design of the revised Software Engineer qualification comprises one (1) part qualification, namely, Software Tester.

Organisations that were consulted and participated in the process of realigning this qualification included employers and training providers such as Yitro Innovations, iThemba IT Solutions, E-kasi IT Solutions, CTU Training Solutions, Bytes People Solutions, i-College, Ginini Consulting, Puzzle debt, DVG, Mpande Technologies and Torque IT. Their input has been used to ensure that the qualification is fit for purpose.

Typical learners to enrol for this qualification are people with workplace experience in the systems development areas who would like to formalise their training; other professionals, school leavers and qualifying learner, who have already been exposed to the system development area and want to pursue a career towards Software Engineers. Upon completion of this qualification, learners may gain employment in the Software Engineering field within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry and all other industries that require ICT services.

Career mobility is possible within the ICT environment with a wide variety of specialisation options within the Telecommunications, Information Technology and Electronic Industries and other industries where IT is a key component, like the Financial Services or Insurance Industries. Learners who successfully complete the Software Engineering qualification can advance their careers by taking additional responsibilities such as leadership roles or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. Businesses, organisations and communities will benefit from this qualification by being served by qualified Software Engineers. These professionals will perform their roles efficiently and effectively by contributing to the building of the economy and South Africa as a whole, through developing innovative software solutions facing the country.

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 results or by 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:

Any NQF Level 4 qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules

251201-001-00-KM-01, Software Engineering, Level 6, 20 Credits.

251201-001-00-KM-02, Programming, Level 6, 20 Credits.

251201-001-00-KM-03, Database Design and Information Systems, Level 6, 15 Credits.

251201-001-00-KM-04, Fundamentals of Project Management in Relation to Software Engineering, Level 5, 5 Credits.

251201-001-00-KM-05, Digital and Business Mathematics, Level 5, 15 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 75

251201-001-00-PM-01, Document System Design, Level 6, 25 Credits.

251201-001-00-PM-02, Design and Manipulate Databases, Level 5, 5 Credits.

251201-001-00-PM-03, Programme and Deploy Applications, Level 6, 25 Credits.

251201-001-00-PM-04, Test or Debug Source Code to Ensure Client's needs are met, Level 5, 15 Credits

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 70.

251201-001-00-WM-01, Software Design, Level 6, 30 Credits.

251201-001-00-WM-02, Database Design and Manipulation, Level 5, 20 Credits.

251201-001-00-WM-03, Software Development, Level 6, 30 Credits.

251201-001-00-WM-04, Software Testing, Level 5, 15 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 95

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge to design software to meet clients' needs.
2. Design and manipulate databases.
3. Develop software to add value to the organisation.
4. Test or debug source code.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Discuss design principles, methodologies and different types of solutions and explain the application, thereof.

Apply information gathering techniques.

Identify and recommend appropriate Information Technology (IT) solutions to business problems.

Document system design.

Create documentation for a software application.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Discuss general principles of databases, database models, database components and concepts and explain
the application thereof.

Design database accordingly.

Manipulate data within a database.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Discuss general principles of system integration, deployment methodologies and processes.

Write code.

Debug source code.

Deploy applications to attain the desired systems' results.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Discuss general principles of software and system testing methodologies and techniques.

Design functional and non-functional test specifications.

Perform functional and non-functional tests against given test specifications.

Record and report all relevant activities where required.

Produce a software and system testing report.

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 to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

International comparability was done against qualifications offered in New Zealand and Australia. The two countries were chosen due to their qualifications being the closest match to the Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer. During the design of this qualification and its part-qualification, consideration was given to international qualifications and no exact match was found for the part-qualification.

New Zealand
New Zealand is offering a Diploma in Software Development, Level 6, ID number 2604 with 240 credits. Some of the institutions that offer this qualification include but are not limited to Activate Training Centre Limited, New Zealand School of Education and Northland Polytech Ltd. The entry requirement into this qualification is the attainment of any Level 5 New Zealand Certificate in software development. Learning duration was not specified. This qualification is aimed at preparing learners who have attained a range of Information Technology (IT) knowledge, specialist practices and technical skills in software development, for employment in an entry-level developer or tester role in a range of organisational contexts, or to proceed to further study.

Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to:

Analyse requirements, design and document software solutions for a range of problems in an organisational.

Write and maintain programs using design patterns, data structures and algorithms to meet specifications.

Apply a range of software quality assurance techniques to verify correctness of systems.

Apply data management and storage technologies to support the software application and the development process.

Establish application security by integrating security principles throughout software development to ensure system integrity.

Choose, justify and apply architecture, technologies, and tools, to implement the software solution.

Apply IT technical support concepts and practice to manage hardware and software resources to meet organisational requirements in a software development context.

Apply project management tools and techniques to an IT related project, to analyse and solve problems.

Apply communication, information design, personal and interpersonal skills clearly and professionally to enhance working effectiveness, efficiency, and quality outcomes in an organisational environment.

Similarities between the South African Software Engineering qualification and the New Zealand Diploma in Software Development have been found to be with the level at which the qualifications are pegged at, credits, course content, target learners and the environments within which qualified learners operate.

Differences have been noted with the design and structure of the qualifications. The design of the Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer comprises the knowledge modules, practical skills modules and work experience modules whilst the New Zealand qualification comprises core unit standards as well as elective unit standards from which learners can choose unit standards specific to the area of specialisation to pursue. On the other hand, the South African qualification's design made provision for a part-qualification called Occupational Certificate: Software Tester. This part-qualification allows learners to exit the qualification upon completion to practice as Software Testers. The entry into the South African Software Engineer qualification is an NQF Level 4 qualification with experience in ICT whilst that of the New Zealand qualification is a Level 5 qualification.

Australia
Certificate IV in Information Technology, Ref number ICT40120, found on the Australian Qualifications Framework reflects the role of individuals who are job ready and competent in a wide range of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roles and apply a broad range of skills in varied work contexts, using problem solving skills and effective communication with others. The qualification is offered over 13 months. This translates to one (1) year and 1 month. Some of the institutions that offer this qualification include amongst others the following: International Institute of Education, Abbey College Australia, Academy IT Pty (Ltd), to name but a few.

Upon completion of the qualification, learners would have gained knowledge and skills in the following areas:

Database development: interpreting specifications, technical designs, and flow charts, modifying software applications, constructing technical specifications from models and testing, and writing technical documents.

Database maintenance: managing, cleaning, storing, and verifying organisational data, and evaluating compliance with internal and external data ethics regulations and legislation.

Gaming development: creating 2D and 3D modelling and animation software through scripts and storyboards.

Networking: installing, configuring, and testing networks and servers in organisations.

Programming: building, testing, and applying basic object-oriented language skills, user interfaces and software developments.

Systems administration support: implementing maintenance procedures and support to help troubleshoot system applications.

Web development: designing website layouts through textual and visual content transfer, search engine optimisation and simple mark-up language documents.

The similarities between the South African's Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer and the Australian Diploma in Information Technology have been noted with target learners and course content.

The differences were noted with the design and structure of the qualifications. The design of the South African Software Engineering qualification comprises knowledge modules, practical skills modules, and work experience modules whilst the Australian qualification comprises units of learning. The design of the Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer made provision for a part-qualification called Software Tester. This part-qualification allows learners to exit the qualification upon completion to practice as Software Testers.
Differences were also found to be with learning duration. The South African qualification is offered over a period of 2 years whilst the Australian qualification is offered over 1 year and 1 month (13 months).
Comparison with regards to credits and level was not possible as these were not specified in the qualification.

Conclusion
The South African Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer compares favourably with qualifications offered in Australia and New Zealand that were compared with.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.

Horizontal Articulation:

Diploma in Information Technology in Software Development, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Information Technology in Web Development, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Information Technology Management, NQF Level 6.

Vertical Articulation:

Bachelor of Information Technology in Business Systems, NQF Level 7.

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience including Foundational Learning Competences.

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:

None.

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: Software Engineer: 251201-001-00-00.

Encompassed Trade:
This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:

None.

Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority. (MICTSETA).

Related Part-Qualification (s)

Occupational Certificate: Software Tester, NQF Level 5.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.

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