Many students opt for private tertiary-education institutions in the hope of obtaining a good-quality qualification. Considering the cost and time spent on such an education, it is of the utmost importance to choose an institution that will offer a recognised qualification.
Riaan Loubser, principal and co-owner of Unigrad College in Nelspruit, says there are a few aspects a prospective student needs to consider before enrolling with a private educational institution to make sure that the institution is above board.
“Firstly, make sure that the institution is registered with all the relevant authorities. All institutions providing education must be registered to operate. The nature of the registration will differ depending on the various types of qualifications offered at each institution. Prospective students should always ask the institution to provide evidence of registration,” he says.
Taking the time to do this simple research will give you peace of mind when choosing the institution that will become your partner in education.
Riaan Loubser, principal and co-owner of Unigrad College in Nelspruit
“Secondly, the specific qualification that you choose should be accredited. Even if the institution is registered, it is still possible that all of the qualifications are not accredited,” he says.
Accreditation differs from institution to institution according to the types of qualifications offered. Prospective students should ask to see evidence of accreditation letters for qualifications issued by the various quality-assurance bodies. These bodies are the Council on Higher Education (CHE), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations
(QCTO), and the Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi).
“Many professional bodies from a variety of fields endorse courses offered by private colleges. Ask colleges about these endorsements as they are recognised by industry,” Loubser says.
Lastly, it is important to visit the institution you are planning to study with. Ask to be taken on a tour of the premises and talk to the people you meet on campus. Make sure that the institution has the facilities and support structures that are advertised on their website.
If you are planning to study online, it is not always possible to visit the institution’s premises. In this case, make contact and ask questions about how you will receive your study material, who your support lecturer will be, and how long you will wait for feedback. In addition, research online reviews of the institution to obtain an impression of other students’ experiences.
Also talk to prospective employers in the field that you are interested in working in. Ask them about their tertiary institutions of choice when they recruit employees. Consider this when you choose a tertiary institution.
“Taking the time to do this simple research will give you peace of mind when choosing the institution that will become your partner in education,” Loubser concluded.
