|
|
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: |
| Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 122661 | Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner-MICT SETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Higher Occupational Cert | 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 | 120 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0426/24 | 2024-08-22 | 2029-08-22 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2030-08-22 | 2033-08-22 | |||
| 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 the learner to function as a Database Administrator. Database Administrators maintain the security and quality of digital databases in organisations by ensuring the availability of data, protection of data against loss and ensuring the optimum validity of data on the database. They also monitor and facilitate the ease and security of accessibility of data according to organisational policies, procedures, and standards and within the prevailing legislative requirements. A qualified learner will be able to: A qualified learner will demonstrate the following key attributes: Rationale: In South Africa, the need for an occupational qualification for Database Administrators is paramount. Databases are the backbone of modern organisations, containing critical data that drives decision-making, innovation, and competitiveness. Database Administrators play a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity, security, and efficiency of these systems. The complexity and importance of database management require specialised skills and knowledge. This qualification will bridge the skills gap, enhance employability, and empower South African businesses with a pool of qualified Database Administrators to support their growth and data-driven success. In an era of digital transformation, cybersecurity threats, and data privacy concerns, a dedicated qualification for Database Administrators is not only necessary but essential for safeguarding our digital infrastructure and fostering economic development. It will contribute to the professionalization of the field, benefitting both individuals seeking rewarding careers and organisations seeking skilled database management expertise. The Occupational Certificate: Data Science Practitioner, NQF Level 5, 185 Credits, SAQA ID 118708 is registered on the NQF. The purpose of this registered qualification is to prepare learners to operate as a Data Science Practitioners. Data Science Practitioners take custody of data and make the data available in a structured form for the Data Scientist to use. They support the data life cycle by collecting, transforming, and analysing data and communicating results to solve elementary business problems. They transform data into robust, comprehensive data sets, aligned with the problem identified in the statement of work and ready for storage. The Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator, however, has a different focus and specifically targets the development of professional database administrators who can become the custodians of the safe and effective operation of all databases within organisations. The development of this qualification will also benefit society in general. It will help to improve the quality of services provided by businesses and organisations, leading to better customer satisfaction. Additionally, it will create job opportunities for individuals who have an interest in data management and wish to pursue a career in this field. The qualification will be particularly beneficial to South African economy, where there is a high demand for skilled professionals in the IT industry. The development of a standardised qualification will help to bridge the skills gap and provide opportunities for job creation in the country. Typical learners include those who have completed a matric qualification or equivalent, as well as individuals who are currently employed in the IT industry and wish to upskill or gain formal recognition of their skills and knowledge in the field of database administration. Collaboration with relevant stakeholders: Various stakeholders in the database administration environment were consulted during the development of this occupational qualification. A person with a Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator will be qualified to operate in various occupations, including: |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for Access Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors. RPL for Exemption For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for Credits Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence. Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 4 qualification with Computer Literacy. |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 44 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 40 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 36 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Apply an informed level of knowledge and understanding of the theories and concepts of database administration to deploy database servers and install required database software.
2. Select and apply standard methods, procedures, and techniques to perform regular database backups and ensure recovery from database failures. 3. Process defined, routine, and new problems associated with database performance by continually maintaining existing database protocols and ensuring the optimum security of the databases. 4. Access, process and manage appropriate information to monitor the performance of databases and take action to optimise database performance and maintenance. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
ELO 1: Apply an informed level of knowledge and understanding of the theories and concepts of database administration to deploy database servers and install required database software. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: ELO 2: Select and apply standard methods, procedures, and techniques to perform regular database backups and ensure recovery from database failures. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: ELO 3: Process defined, routine, and new problems associated with database performance by continually maintaining existing database protocols and ensuring the optimum security of the databases. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: ELO 4: Access, process and manage appropriate information to monitor the performance of databases and take action to optimise database performance and maintenance. Integrated Assessment: Formative Assessment Formative assessments are conducted throughout the training of learners. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal ongoing assessment activities are used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment. Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weakness, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills and workplace experience gained. Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided. Summative Assessment Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular qualification, part-qualification, or occupational skills programme, such as written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules as found in the QCTO curriculum document must be followed. An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated, and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g. applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc. The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR) that is a requirement for admission to the EISA. An SoR, using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for qualifications and part-qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the final result and the date on which the competence in each module, of each component, was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA. The Quality Partner is responsible for the management, conduct and implementation of the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), in accordance with QCTO set standards. Competence in the EISA is a requirement for certificating a learner. For entrance into the EISA, the learner requires a valid Statement of Results issued by the accredited institution indicating: The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge, Practical and Work Experience modules OR The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge and Application Components. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| This qualification was compared with two International Qualifications, one from Australia and one from the United Kingdom
Australia A qualification in Australia that focuses on building the capability of Database Administrators is the Diploma of Database Design and Development. This qualification is registered at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). In comparison with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), in South Africa, this qualification is equivalent to an NQF Level 5. There are no formal entry requirements for the Australian qualification. However, it is recommended that learners must have some prior experience in the Information Technology industry and have completed a Certificate IV in Information Technology (IT) or equivalent. The duration of this qualification is typically 12-24 months if studying full-time. Key modules covered in the qualification are: Providers that offer learning for acquiring the qualification: Similarities Differences United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, there are several qualifications available that focus on building the capability of Database Administrators. One of the most popular qualifications in this field is the BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing and Systems Development. The BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing and Systems Development is registered on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in the United Kingdom (UK). This qualification is at level 5 on the RQF. In South Africa, the equivalent level of a Higher National Diploma (HND) at Level 5 in the UK would be equivalent to NQF Level 6. Entry into the UK qualification typically requires, learners to have RQF Level 3 qualification in Computing or equivalent, or relevant work experience. However, entry requirements may vary depending on the provider. In South Africa, there is no direct equivalent qualification to RQF Level 3 certificate in the UK, as the education systems and qualifications frameworks differ between the two countries. In the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF), qualifications are rated on a scale from Level 1 to Level 10, with Level 1 being the lowest and Level 10 being the highest. RQF Level 3 in the UK corresponds to qualifications, which are roughly equivalent to Level 4 or 5 on the South African NQF. The duration of the UK qualification is typically 2 years if studying full-time. Key modules covered in the qualification are: Providers that offer learning for acquiring the qualification: Similarities Differences Conclusion: The Higher Occupational Certificate: Database Administrator compares favourably with the two international qualifications used here for the comparability study. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification provides for horizontal, vertical and diagonal articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: Diagonal Articulation: |
| 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. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: Criteria for the accreditation of providers Accreditation requirements, against which Skills Development Providers (SDP) and Assessment Centres, will be accredited, is found in the Curriculum Document, as listed below: The curriculum title and code are: Database Administrator, 252101-001-00-00. Encompassed Trade: Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) |
| 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. |
| 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. |