NQA braces itself for green hydrogen qualifications
• Renewable energy boom trickles down to education
The NQA has started with preparations to ensure its readiness in accrediting institutions that hope to offer courses on green hydrogen.
As several local tertiary institutions prepare to add courses on green hydrogen to their offerings basket, the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) has set in motion plans to ensure that the county’s qualification framework is in place.
This is according to NQA’s communications manager Lina Ndengu, who noted that the authority has started with preparations to ensure its readiness in accrediting institutions that hope to offer courses in this vein.
Meanwhile, with most employers now requiring an NQA report during recruitment, the authority encouraged academic qualification holders to submit their qualifications for evaluation to avoid this inconvenience.
On the timelines involved, Ndengu said the evaluation process takes 30 working days, subject to the completeness of the application and the availability of information.
Misconception
Namibia currently has 69 accredited tertiary institutions.
“Evaluation is aimed at verifying the authenticity, legality and validity of the awarding body and the specific institution. NQA offers this service for free, with all information available on our website,” Ndengu noted.
She added that the general feeling that individuals from vocational training centres must go to South Africa for international accreditation is a misconception.
“The only reason for a student to have their training certificates evaluated in South Africa is if they wish to enrol at an institution in South Africa, which requires them to have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority,” she said.
Bogus institutions
Ndengu further pointed out that the NQA is well aware of the presence of institutions fraudulently using its name to lure unsuspecting students. “Through engagements with these institutions, appropriate actions have since been taken to disclose such practices.”
As unaccredited institutions remain a critical challenge, the authority has reiterated the need for amendments to the legal framework, empowering it to effectively close unaccredited institutions operating in Namibia. The NQA is confident this will bring an end to the exploitation of unsuspecting Namibians, Ndengu said.
The communications manager advised prospective students to be vigilant of bogus institutions and to make sure they verify the accreditation status of both the institution and the course they wish to pursue before enrolment.
The NQA further encouraged all training providers to apply for accreditation to offer quality-assured programmes that will be recognised in Namibia and elsewhere in the world. “Unlike evaluation, this will cost institutions a minimal fee.”
This is according to NQA’s communications manager Lina Ndengu, who noted that the authority has started with preparations to ensure its readiness in accrediting institutions that hope to offer courses in this vein.
Meanwhile, with most employers now requiring an NQA report during recruitment, the authority encouraged academic qualification holders to submit their qualifications for evaluation to avoid this inconvenience.
On the timelines involved, Ndengu said the evaluation process takes 30 working days, subject to the completeness of the application and the availability of information.
Misconception
Namibia currently has 69 accredited tertiary institutions.
“Evaluation is aimed at verifying the authenticity, legality and validity of the awarding body and the specific institution. NQA offers this service for free, with all information available on our website,” Ndengu noted.
She added that the general feeling that individuals from vocational training centres must go to South Africa for international accreditation is a misconception.
“The only reason for a student to have their training certificates evaluated in South Africa is if they wish to enrol at an institution in South Africa, which requires them to have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority,” she said.
Bogus institutions
Ndengu further pointed out that the NQA is well aware of the presence of institutions fraudulently using its name to lure unsuspecting students. “Through engagements with these institutions, appropriate actions have since been taken to disclose such practices.”
As unaccredited institutions remain a critical challenge, the authority has reiterated the need for amendments to the legal framework, empowering it to effectively close unaccredited institutions operating in Namibia. The NQA is confident this will bring an end to the exploitation of unsuspecting Namibians, Ndengu said.
The communications manager advised prospective students to be vigilant of bogus institutions and to make sure they verify the accreditation status of both the institution and the course they wish to pursue before enrolment.
The NQA further encouraged all training providers to apply for accreditation to offer quality-assured programmes that will be recognised in Namibia and elsewhere in the world. “Unlike evaluation, this will cost institutions a minimal fee.”
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