Quality criteria for value-adding training providers - accreditation is no guarantee of quality.
During my work in assisting companies, government departments and training providers to improve the quality of learning, learnership and skills development processes, the question is often asked: How do we select training providers? What criteria should we use to ensure that providers deliver quality programmes?
Unfortunately, many have realised that the fact that a provider is accredited is no guarantee of quality, or that the programmes will address the specific needs of the learners. The provider may have impressed the ETQA with imposing mission and vision statements, as well as piles of policies and procedures to get accreditation, but that does not necessarily translate into quality learning programmes.
If you are looking for a training provider that will really add value, here are 10 key questions you should ask. There is also a checklist you can use in deciding on the most appropriate provider for your specific need.
Training providers can use the questions and checklist to make sure that what they are offering is a cut above the rest.
Ten critical questions training providers must be able to answer
- What is the NQF level of the programme?
- 2. Which unit standard(s) or qualification is your programme aligned to? -
- Do programmes constitute building blocks to a qualification? (Providers score bonus points if they meet this requirement, but it is not always necessary or desirable.)
- Note: This question only applies to NQF-aligned programmes. It does not apply where alignment to unit standards/qualifications is not appropriate or not possible, i.e. programmes that are not "NQF-able?.
- Which SETA are you accredited with, and what is your accreditation number?
- Is this programme covered in the scope of your accreditation?
- (Are you accredited to offer this programme?)
- What are the registration numbers of the assessors you are using?
- Does their registration cover the areas they will be assessing?
- Show me how the learning programme and materials cover the components of the unit standard(s) or qualification.
- Show me how the assessments cover the specific outcomes and assessment criteria of the unit standards.
- What understanding or experience do you have of our specific work industry or environment?
- How will you customise your programme to relate it to our context?
- How long have you been a training provider?
- How long have you been offering this programme?
- Can you give us the names of three previous clients?
If the provider could not answer these questions satisfactorily, you need to look further. But, if you are satisfied with the answers, you can use the checklist to engage with the provider in a more in-depth discussion. Checklist for selecting training providers
Please note: The checklist is not intended as a score sheet for selecting the provider that achieves the highest score. It is intended as a guide on the kind of questions you should ask to make sure that the provider satisfies your key requirements.
You may well select a provider that does not have everything in place, but that addresses your particular need in important areas.
