The Institutional Planning Quality Enhancement (IPQE) Section at the Central University of Technology, in collaboration with the faculties, has been working around in preparation for submitting all required documents for the smooth process of introducing distance education programmes.

The team is committed to ensuring that these programmes are accredited during the 2022 academic year, thereby giving the university sufficient time to prepare for the 2023/ 2024 launch.

Emanating from this partnership, eight distance learning programmes have been developed for distance education to enable the university to increase its capacity to teach remotely and increase access to high-quality and affordable learning programmes. This engaging online format attracts and enrols qualified students in these programmes and provides ongoing student support until they graduate.

The accreditation process turnaround time only depends on the Council of Higher Education (CHE) and its verdict on the applications submitted. For this reason, CUT and Higher Ed Partners South Africa (HEPSA) are already working on all related logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth program launch as soon as SAQA program registration has been finalised.

All eight qualifications underwent internal accreditation until the final stage when SENATE approved them earlier this year. Furthermore, a submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) was completed in February 2022 for Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) clearance. The university received approval on all eight programmes in May 2022. The qualifications are Advanced Diplomas in Applied Management, Health Management, Information Technology, and Human Resource Management; as well as Postgraduate Diplomas in Entrepreneurial Management, Project Management, Human Resource Management, and Information Technology.