Policy Learning Forum (PLF) on the conceptualisation and the use of Learning Outcomes in SA

Key stakeholders met for two days at Emperors Palace on 24 and 25 June 2019 to attend the Policy Learning Forum (PLF) on the conceptualisation and the use of Learning Outcomes in South Africa (SA). The event was also used to commemorate the 21st birthday of the NQF, and provided an opportunity for South Africa and the European Union (EU) to jointly reflect and consider the key lessons learned from the implementation of NQFs in both Europe and South Africa.

The purpose of the PLF on the conceptualisation and the use of Learning Outcomes in South Africa was to:

• provide a peer learning opportunity for South Africa and Europe to exchange experiences and engage with users of learning outcomes; and
• develop a better conceptual understanding of learning outcomes, how they have been used, how they are currently being used and how best to implement them.

The Management Team of SAQA wishes to thank all those who participated in the event, from South Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) namely Eswatini, Namibia and Seychelles and from Europe namely the European Centre for Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop); United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Estonia, Poland and Scotland.
A special thanks is extended to the SA-EU Dialogue Facility for funding and supporting the event.

Your contributions are highly appreciated.

The two days comprised seven sessions.

Below is a list of presentations for the two days:

Session One: Official opening and welcome

• National Qualifications Framework: 21 years and counting: Mr Joe Samuels SAQA

Session Two: Setting the Scene

• NQF Haiku: Samuel Isaacs
• Learning Outcomes: some key lessons from Europe: Mr Jens Bjornavold (Cedefop)
• The conceptualisation and use of Learning Outcomes in South Africa: Dr Shirley Lloyd

Session Three: Articulation and learning pathways

• Learning Outcomes and Articulation: A European and a global perspective: Dr Borhene Chakroun (UNESCO)
• Learning Outcomes and Articulation: a South African perspective: Prof Darren Lortan

Session Four: Deepening the learning outcomes conversations in the Sub-Frameworks

Stream One: General and Further Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (GFETQSF)

• Conceptualising Outcomes for schooling in the General & Further Education & Training Sub-framework: Ms Elizabeth Burroughs & Dr Celia Booyse
• How are Learning Outcomes used in Assessment: Dr Rufus Poliah

Stream Two: Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)

• How learning outcomes are conceptualised and, used in the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)-Challenges, successes and key lessons learnt: Dr Thabile Mtombeni

Stream Three: Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF)

• Credit Allocation and Notional Hours: Ms Abeeda Holdstock
• Deepening the outcomes conversation in the Sub-Frameworks (OQSF): Mr Chris Vorwerk
• Occupational Qualifications Credits and Notional hours: Dr Florus Prinsloo
• Feedback Session Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF)
  : Mr Chris Vorwerk

Session Five: Deepening the learning outcomes conversation with professional bodies

• How are Learning Outcomes used in Assessment?: Ms Anastasia Pouliou (Cedefop)
• How are Learning Outcomes conceptualised and used in the work of professional bodies -challenges, successes and key lessons learned: The SACPCMP perspective with respect to the construction management professions: Mr George Mbuthia
• Learning Outcomes: Ms Lelane Bezuidenhout

Session Six: Policy learning

Stream One: Learning outcomes and quality assurance

• Describing Learning Outcomes for qualifications in Poland-Wojciech Stechly (Poland)
• How do you assess whether Learning Outcomes are aligned to the NQF?: Dr Linda Meyer
• The role of learning outcomes in curriculum design: Dr Celia Booyse

Stream Two: Learning outcomes and foreign qualifications

• The use of learning outcomes in the comparison of foreign qualifications: Ms Nadina Coetzee
• Policy Learning Forum (PLF) on the conceptualisation and use of learning outcomes: Methods used to assist in comparing qualifications: Mr John Hart (Scotland)

Stream Three: Learning outcomes and recognition of prior learning

• How are learning outcomes applied in RPL?: Ms Fiona Ernesta (Seychelles)
• Learning Outcomes in RPL Processes: successes; challenges; lessons: Dr Heidi Bolton
• Learning outcomes and RPL: Ms Kulli All (Estonia)

Session Seven: Future Trends

• Future of Qualifications: Dr Borhene Chakroun (UNESCO)
• Taking NQF forward reflectively, accountably, boldly: build on what we know, do and understand: Prof Shirley Walters
• Way forward: Mr Joe Samuels SAQA