mining qualifications authority _sgb circ no 63_2004_… · developed collaboratively by the...

MINING QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY PRIVATE BAG X66 33 HOOFD STR. BRAAMFONTEIN FORUM II, BRAAMPARK BRAAMFONTEIN 2017 TEL (011) 403-7946 FAX (011) 403-8417 MQ A BO ARD CIR.: 87/2004

LEVELS 5 TO 8 Q UALIFICATIO NS DESIGN, REGISTRATIO N AND LICENSING PRINCIPLES AND MO DEL FO R ENGINEERING CO MPETENCIES IN THE SA MINING

AND MINERALS SECTO R 1. BACKGRO UND

An understood and agreed position relating to Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing in the SA Mining and Minerals Sector (SA M&MS) urgently needs to be developed by the stakeholder groupings in the Industry.

To this end the said issue has been included in the Terms-of-Reference of the ENGINEERING 5-8 Working Group of the SGB for Mining and Minerals (M&M SGB).

2. THE PRO PO SED “MO DEL”

The proposed Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing Principles and Model adopted by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) is based on the Engineering Qualification Model developed collaboratively by the Engineering SGB and the MQA Qualifications Design Task Team recorded in a Reported entitled “Common Vocabulary, Terminology, Concepts, Qualification Design Philosophy and QD-Models” dated September 2000.

The said Report deals inter alia with the following concepts which should constitute the principles/foundation of any subsequent detailed developments relating to Registration and Licensing:

ポ Competence/competency standards (qualifications and unit standards)/competent person; ポ practicing person; ポ registration as elective option in the SA M&MS; ポ licensing as elective option in the SA M&MS; ポ currency of competency as elective option in the SA M&MS, and ポ professionalism.

New contributions received from the Engineering Council of SA, the participating Mine’s Professional Associations (MPAs) active in the SA M&MS and persons serving on the ENGINEERING 5-8 Working Group have been incorporated into this position document for the SA M&MS.

3. Q UALIFICATIO NS DESIGN, REGISTRATIO N AND LICENSING PRINCIPLES

The following Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing Principles proposed by the participating MPAs, will be used to evaluate the validity and appropriateness of any Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing Model(-s) for the SA M&MS:

C:\Documents and Settings\ddelport\Desktop\MPAS Docs\87-2004 (SGB Circ No 63_2004_QD Reg Lic Princ Model (9 june 2004).doc of 2

3.1 That the new Outcomes-Based Education and Training (OBET)-compliant dispensation must maintain and improve the Education and Training Standards achieved through the current and concomitant Quality Assurance/Certification and Licensing Systems currently administered by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) or other recognized Licensing body;

3.2 That the OBET-compliant dispensation will enable learners appropriate access to the Level 1

generic engineering qualifications and will allow learners appropriate and integrated learning pathways to progress from Level 4 qualifications to Levels 5 to 8 qualifications registered on the NQF;

3.3 That the competency standards achieved through the Certification and Licensing System

currently administered by the DME as the Licensing Authority, be appropriately provided for by new OBET-compliant unit standards and qualifications registered on the NQF;

3.4 That the implementation of the new OBET-compliant dispensation in the SA M&MS makes

provision for recognition of prior learning (RPL) through appropriate transitional arrangements inclusive of “grand fathering”;

3.5 That engineering competencies are nationally recognized and portable based on generic

competency standards registered on the NQF; 3.6 That it is desirable that engineering competencies are internationally recognized and portable

based on the respective reciprocity agreements such as the Washington Accord for University qualifications, subject to the premise that the other Qualifications, Registration and Licensing Principles set out herein, are not compromised;

3.7 That, in order to practise in the engineering profession as well as the SA M&MS, a person

needs to have been assessed competent against both a Stage 1 as well as a Stage 2 qualification. Stage 1 would be the achievement of a qualification registered on the NQF that is primarily focused on education supplemented by appropriate workplace-based learning (training) components. Stage 2 would be the achievement of a qualification registered on the NQF that reflects competence that is primarily focused on workplace-based learning with appropriate educational components;

3.8 That different Stage 2 engineering qualifications are required for the different professional

registration categories (see routes for engineer, engineering technologist, certificated engineer and engineering technician);

3.9 That any Stage 2 engineering qualification registered on the National Qualifications

Framework (NQF), once issued to a successful recipient, would be permanently held and not suspended or rescinded;

3.10 That registration with a statutorily established Registration Body such as the Engineering

Council of SA (ECSA), whether voluntary discretionary or compulsory in nature, may/could be suspended or rescinded by such Registration Body. The registered person thus involved, will however retain his/her status as competent person referred to in (i) above.

Note: The re-registration of de-registered persons should be possible, subject to

specified requirements prescribed by the respective Registration Body; 3.11 That competent engineering practitioners should be encouraged to register with ECSA.

Registration with ECSA is a voluntary action on the part of an individual (applicant registree). Applicant registrees would therefore need to submit an application to ECSA to be registered in one of the registration categories;


3.12 That the current Certification and Licensing/Quality Assurance System currently administered by the DME as the Licensing Authority for certain competency certificates in the SA M&MS, remain in force until the new OBET-compliant dispensation is implemented in the SA M&MS;

3.13 That a person in possession of level 5 to 8 Stage 2 engineering qualification is eligible to

practice in the SA M&MS as a competent engineering practitioner with or without one of the following Licenses-to-Practice (LtP):

ポ Discretionary LtP, issued and administered by the respective employer or manager, or

ポ Compulsory (mandatory) LtP, issued by an agreed respective Licensing Authority;

3.14 That a LtP, whether discretionary or compulsory (mandatory) in nature, may be suspended or

rescinded by the agreed respective Licensing (issuing) Authority. The person whose LtP is suspended or rescinded will loose his/her eligibility to practice but will retain his/her status as competent person referred to in (h) above. The Licensing System should allow the Licensee to regain his/her LtP, subject to conditions, specified by the agreed Licensing Authority;

3.15 That, with the exception of Engineering Work that needs to be performed by a registered

person, persons assessed competent against a Stage 2 engineering qualification, will be eligible:

ポ To be registered under the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No 46/2000).

Registered Persons would in addition be required to practice as professionals in compliance with codes of practice/ethics and to comply with the requirements of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Eligible persons would be required to submit an application to ECSA to be registered in one of the registration categories as set out in Section 18 of the EPA 2000;

and/or ポ To be licensed to practise under the MHSA; or ポ To be utilized/to practice as a competent engineering practitioner in the SA M&MS

without the need to be either registered or licensed to practice; 3.16 That persons assessed competent against an appropriate Stage 2 National Certificate in

Engineering at the appropriate level on the NQF, plus the specified unit standards for certificated engineers or managers, are eligible to:

3.16.1 Practice as a competent certificated engineer or manager without the need to be

registered or to be licensed to practice; and/or

3.16.2 Be licensed to practice as a competent certificated engineer or manager, and and/or 3.16.3 Submit an application to ECSA to be registered in the category professional

certificated engineer.


4. FRAMEWO RK O F ENGINEERING Q UALIFICATIO NS IN THE HET BAND

APPENDIX A sets out the “Framework of Engineering Qualifications in the Higher Education and Training (HET) Band”, as proposed by the Engineering SGB.

This proposed “Framework” has been used to establish the qualifications framework for the “Model”.

5. THE PRO PO SED Q UALIFICATIO NS DESIGN, REGISTRATIO N AND LICENSING

MO DEL

APPENDICES B.1 and B.2 sets out the “Two Stage Model for Competent Engineering Practitioners”, in two parts as follows:

ポ APPENDIX B.1 : Two-Stage Development Model for Engineers, Engineering

Technologists and Engineering Technicians, and ポポ APPENDIX B.2 : Two-Stage Development Model for Certificated Engineers and

Managers. 6. HO W TO READ/UNDERSTAND THE PRO PO SED Q UALIFICATIO NS, REGISTRATIO N

AND LICENSING MO DEL (SEE APPENDICES B.1 AND B.2)

The following aspects need to be considered when reading the proposed Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing Model:

6.1 The fact that the Stage 1 and Stage 2 qualifications are depicted on the same line on

APPENDICES B.1 and B.2 must not be construed to suggest that the levels and credits of the envisaged qualifications are the same:

ポ Baccalaurius in Engineering (B. Eng): L8 qualification with 560 credits; ポ Baccalaurius in Engineering Technology (B.Tech): L7 qualification with 480 credits; ポ National Diploma in Engineering (N. Dip): L6 qualification with 360 credits;

6.2 The model allows persons to follow different learning pathways to achieve the qualifications

e.g. the Stage 1 University and Technical University exit level outcome qualifications will be converted into unit-standard-based qualifications to enable recognition of prior learning of alternate route candidates;

6.3 The model does not indicate the details of the different possible learning pathways to achieve

the desired outcomes of the Stage 1 qualifications e.g. the N1 to N6 route currently provided for by Technical Colleges. The future of this possible learning pathway needs urgent clarification/ confirmation;

6.4 Programmes leading to Stage 1 and Stage 2 qualifications would be conceptualized per

discipline or industry. A Stage 2 qualification in the Mining Industry could for example include competencies required for licensing i.e. knowledge and understanding of the MHSA and maintenance and operation of plant.

6.5 In future, learnerships is expected to be registered against the Stage 1 unit-standard-based and

Stage 2 engineering qualifications;


6.6 ECSA is expected to take on the role of an ETQA in respect of the Stage 2 L4-L8 engineering

qualifications, with participation from all the interested and affected parties/ stakeholders. The details of the assessment and accreditation structures and policies still need to be developed for the said Stage 2 engineering qualifications, in conjunction with all stakeholders;

6.7 The Council for Higher Education (CHE) is the ETQA for the levels 5 to 8 Stage 1 generic

engineering qualifications registered on the NQF. ECSA would accredit engineering programmes of accredited providers;

6.8 The Model does not reflect the envisaged relationships between the generic engineering

Qualifications, Registration, Licensing and the need for certain persons to demonstrate the ability to Supervise, Manage or Lead (generic management competencies). The issue of generic management competencies requires further investigation before it can be appropriately integrated into the said “Model”;

6.9 Registration as an elective option in the SA M&MS, encompasses three possible Scenarios e.g.:

ポ Voluntary Registration: Individual engineering practitioners in possession of Stage 2 engineering qualifications may opt to submit a voluntary application to be registered, even though discretionary or mandatory registration may not be required. Voluntary registration should however be promoted to enhance professionalism in the engineering profession;

ポ Discretionary Registration: The employer of engineering practitioners who have been

assessed competent against a Stage 2 generic engineering qualification may require certain persons to be registered in a specific registration category as prerequisite for assigning certain roles and responsibilit ies to such person in the company e.g. persons responsible to mentor the learning of candidate engineers, engineering technologists, certificated engineers and engineering technicians etc., and

ポ Compulsory (Mandatory) Registration: The employer of engineering practitioners is

compelled to use only registered persons based on the “Identification of Engineering Work that would require Professional Registration in the SA M&MS” in accordance with the requirements of the Built Environment Act, 2000 (Act No 43/2000), Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No 29/1996, as amended), or other applicable ZAR legislation. The decision whether or not to require Compulsory Registration, should be based on whether or not such requirement is both necessary and appropriate.

6.10 Licensing as an elective option in the SA M&MS encompasses three distinct Scenarios:

ポ No Licensing required: Competent Persons are recruited, selected, engaged, orientated and subsequently allowed to practice in the working environment without the necessity to be specifically appointed/authorized/licensed to practice. It is expected that the majority of competent persons practicing in the SA M&MS, would fall in this category;

ポ Discretionary Licensing: Employers of engineering practitioners who have been assessed

competent against a Stage 2 generic engineering qualification, may license to practice (authorize) certain persons to perform certain work, roles and/or responsibilit ies in the organization in the absence of any requirement for compulsory licensing, and

ポ Compulsory (Mandatory) Licensing: Employers of engineering practitioners may be

compelled to assign certain roles or responsibilit ies to competent persons or registered persons. This type of licensing requirement is expected to be required in terms of some or other legislation applicable to the SA M&MS.


7. RECO MMENDATIO N

The EXCO recommends to the Board that this “Levels 5 to 8 Qualifications Design, Registration and Licensing Principles and Model” in respect of Engineering Competencies for the SA M&MS be approved for forwarding to the ESGB as the position of the SA M&MS in this regard. Note: These said “Principles” and “Model” are viewed to be appropriately aligned with the Stage

1 / Stage 2 Qualifications Model adopted by the ESGB and approved in principle by the ECSA.

END


APPENDIX A

of 11 C:\Documents and Settings\ddelport\Desktop\MPAS Docs\87-2004 (SGB Circ No 63_2004_QD Reg Lic Princ Model (9 june 2004).doc

Professional Engineering Technician

Professional Engineering Technologist

National Certificate: Engineering at

Level 6 on the NQ F

National Certificate: Engineering at

Level 6 on the NQ F

Other Qualification registered on

NQF

N.Dip (Eng) orUnit Standard

equivalent

B.Tech (Eng) orUnit Standard

equivalent

NQF Level 4 Qualification(With access to Recognition of Prior Learning)

Professional Registration

Stage 2 Qualifications(National Certificates orNational Diplomas)

(Future Unit-Standard-Based Learnerships orSkills Programmes)

Stage 1 Qualifications

LICENSINGOPTION 2:

Professional Registration in one of these registration categories provides eligibility for such

registered personto be licensed to practice.

orLICENSINGOPTION 1:

A Stage 2 National Certificate for one of these categories provides

eligibility for such competent engineering practitionerto be

licensed to practice.

TWO STAGE DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR COMPETENT ENGINEERING PRACTITIONERS(ENGINEER, ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST, ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN AND OTHERS)

Determined by appropriate

combination and level of core (compulsory)

and elective unit standards

Structured development programmetowards the certificate

Other

Registration Category


combination and level of core

(compulsory) and elective unit standards






To be determined.

To be determined.

Nation al Certificate: En gineering at

Level 7 on the NQF

Nation al Certificate: En gineering at

Level 7 on the NQF

Professional Engineer

B.Eng orUnit Standard

equivalent





VOLUNTARY

EXIT

POINT

EXITPOINT

EXIT POINT

National Certificate in

Engineering at NQF Level 8

APPENDIX B.1

of 12 C:\Documents and Settings\ddelport\Desktop\MPAS Docs\87-2004 (SGB Circ No 63_2004_QD Reg Lic Princ Model (9 june 2004).doc




Structured development programmetowards the

Certificate

Professional Certificated

Engineer


equivalent

B.Eng or Unit Standard

equivalent

VOLUNTARYProfessional Registration







Structured development programmetowards the Certificate

Note 1:

A Stage 2 Nat ional Cert ificate: Engineering at least at level 6 on the NQF which includes specified Unit Standards, provides eligibility for such competent person to:

(a) pract ice as a Competent Cert if icated Engineer or Manager w ithout the need for Registration or a Licence to Prac tice

and/or

(b) apply for Registration as a Professional Certificated Engineerand/or

(c) be lic ensed to practice as a Competent Certificated Engineer or Manager

Note 2:

The spec ified Unit Standards referred to in Note 1 must at least cover the competencies currently set out in Chapters 28 and 29 of the MHSARegulations.

(a) “Engineering Pla nt” and “Legal Knowledge” for Certificated Engineers, and

(b) “Mining Part A & B”and “Legal Knowle dge” for Certif icated Managers


equivalent


LICENSINGOPTION 2:

Professional Registrationin this registration category provides eligibility for such registered certificated engineerto be

licensed to practice.or

LICENSINGOPTION 1:

The appropriate Stage 2 National Certificate: Engineering

provides eligibility for such competent engineering

practitionerto be licensed to practice as a certificated engineer.

N.Cert (Tech) (N.6) or

Unit Standard equivalent





Other to be determined

Appropriate NC in Engineering with

necessary ‘Licensing’ Unit Standards

Notes 1 and 2

EXIT POINT

EXIT POINT

EXIT POINT

APPENDIX B.2










TWO STAGE DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR COMPETENT ENGINEERING PRACTITIONERS(CERTIFICATED ENGINEER/MANAGER)




Structured development programmetowards the

Certificate

Professional Certificated

Engineer


equivalent

B.Eng or Unit Standard

equivalent










Note 1:

A Stage 2 Nat ional Cert ificate: Engineering at least at level 6 on the NQF which includes specified Unit Standards, provides eligibility for such competent person to:

(a) pract ice as a Competent Cert if icated Engineer or Manager w ithout the need for Registration or a Licence to Prac tice

and/or

(b) apply for Registration as a Professional Certificated Engineerand/or

(c) be lic ensed to practice as a Competent Certificated Engineer or Manager

Note 2:

The spec ified Unit Standards referred to in Note 1 must at least cover the competencies currently set out in Chapters 28 and 29 of the MHSARegulations.

(a) “Engineering Pla nt” and “Legal Knowledge” for Certificated Engineers, and

(b) “Mining Part A & B”and “Legal Knowle dge” for Certif icated Managers


equivalent


LICENSINGOPTION 2:

Professional Registrationin this registration category provides eligibility for such registered certificated engineerto be

licensed to practice.or

LICENSINGOPTION 1:

The appropriate Stage 2 National Certificate: Engineering

provides eligibility for such competent engineering

practitionerto be licensed to practice as a certificated engineer.

N.Cert (Tech) (N.6) or

Unit Standard equivalent





Other to be determined

Appropriate NC in Engineering with

necessary ‘Licensing’ Unit Standards

Notes 1 and 2

EXIT POINT

EXIT POINT

EXIT POINT

APPENDIX B.2










TWO STAGE DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR COMPETENT ENGINEERING PRACTITIONERS(CERTIFICATED ENGINEER/MANAGER)