No ‘selling of qualifications’ at Unisa
"Our qualifications undergo strict quality assessments and reviews by international knowledge and professional bodies."
Unisa has denied recent media reports that the institution’s qualifications were “for sale”.
This follows an article published in the Sunday Times of October 17 that questioned the university’s quality of scholarship and research, alluding that the instruction was “selling qualifications”.
Unisa spokesperson Tommy Huma slammed the article as “intentionally misleading, malicious and inaccurate”.
Huma said in a statement that the university “was the leading and biggest university in South Africa, whose qualifications; certificate, undergraduate and post-graduate levels were held by millions of South Africans and graduates from outside the country’s borders”.
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He said the Unisa qualifications were audited by the Council for Higher Education (CHE), South Africa and other professional qualification authorities abroad.
“All Unisa’s qualifications are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).”
He said Unisa was currently undergoing a qualifications audit (2021) as part of its ongoing effort to ensure compliance with the requirements of the CHE and other bodies, as well as ensure high-quality standards on its academic offerings.
“Our qualifications also undergo strict quality assessments and reviews by international knowledge and professional bodies such as the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA); among others.”
Huma said the institution had several well-established processes designed to safeguard the integrity of its qualifications.
“The process of qualifications begins right at the point when prospective students apply to study at Unisa because they must meet strict qualifying criteria to be admitted to their course of choice. In the same way, those students must meet all relevant entry requirements and, on completion of their course, they earn a qualification because they have met strict criteria.
He described Unisa teaching staff as “highly qualified and ethical professionals who would never issue qualifications to those who have not earned such qualifications”.
He said the university assured all its students and the public that the institution would continue to produce illustrious graduates.
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