Protect your qualifications by studying only at accredited institutions

It is that time of the year when prospective learners apply to various educational institutions world wide to further their studies for the year 2020. Confidente(C) thus had a one-on-one with Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA)Manager of Marketing and Communications Catherine Shipushu (CS) to highlight the importance of studying at accredited institutions.

There are currently 56 accredited institutions of higher learning operating in various towns across Namibia. The full list of accredited Namibian institutions is available for viewing and download on the NQA website: www.namqa.org

“Given the prevalence of bogus institutions in the world, we advise the prospective learners to always consult the NQA in order to verify the accreditation status of both the institution and course before enrolling for studies.

This is for their own protection, as failure to do so may result in learners obtaining qualifications that are not recognised for any purpose in Namibia or anywhere else in the world. Studying at an unaccredited institution is essentially a waste of time and money, and our objective is to protect learners from going through this unfortunate experience.”

C:What is accreditation?

CS: Accreditation is confirmation by the NQA that an institution has the capacity to provide specified courses and assess the performance of persons enrolled in such a course. Accreditation applies to any person, institution or organisation offering training or educational services.

C:Who should apply for accreditation?

CS: All training providers offering courses that lead to a qualification should apply for accreditation by the NQA. A training provider may be an individual or institution represented by or through a body corporate entity that is appropriately registered in Namibia.

Accreditation is not limited to conventional education and training providers. Training centres, departments or institutes within companies, government departments and state-owned enterprises are eligible to seek accreditation for their courses. Application forms are available from the NQA House in Windhoek and online: www.namqa.org.

C:Why should I study at an accredited institution?

CS: The NQA only evaluates qualifications obtained at accredited institutions, whether in Namibia or abroad. Evaluation is the process of confirming whether qualifications are legal and authentic, as well as the accreditation status of the institution they were obtained from.

C:What are the consequences of studying at an unaccredited institution?

CS: Qualifications obtained at unaccredited institutions in Namibia or elsewhere in the world are not recognised as legal and therefore hold no value. As most employers require NQA-evaluated qualifications, holders of qualifications obtained at unaccredited institutions are likely to struggle to secure employment and gain acceptance at other institutions to further their studies.

There are many unaccredited institutions operating in Namibia and elsewhere in the world. It is therefore important for all prospective leaners to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling for studies so that they do not fall prey to these bogus institutions.

C:How do I verify the accreditation status of an institution?

CS: The NQA assists prospective learners to verify the accreditation status of institutions in Namibia and anywhere else in the world. To make use of this free service, simply visit the NQA website: www.namqa.org and complete the ‘Request for accreditation status of an institution’ form and email it to advice@namqa.org.

You can also obtain the form from the NQA House in Windhoek. The NQA endeavours to respond to all queries within seven working days, depending on the availability of information.

For more information about the accreditation process, please contact us on:

Tel: +264 (61) 384 100

Email: marketing@namqa.org

Website: www.namqa.org