The NQA was established through the NQA Act 29 of 1996 and started from humble beginnings as a Directorate in the former Ministry of Education. As the higher education sector regulator, the NQA’s mandate includes amongst others, to accredit training providers, evaluate foreign qualifications as well as to set up and manage the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Through related quality assurance processes, the NQA is also tasked with ensuring that qualifications are aligned to the developmental needs of the nation.
The NQA also monitors and advices on the standards and quality of training and education in Namibia. This not only ensures consumer protection for those investing in education, but also safeguards the country’s reputation.
In addition to its statutory functions, the NQA serves as a gateway for everyone who aspires to study in Namibia, equally for Namibians who wish to study in foreign countries.
Accreditation of training providers
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 courses. Accreditation applies to any person, institution or organisation offering training or educational services and adds value to the education sector in a various ways. For training providers, they gain assurance that their courses are regarded as of high quality and will therefore be widely accepted.
Who should apply for accreditation?
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 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 on the website: www.namqa.org.
Why should I study at an accredited institution?
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.
What are the consequences of studying at an unaccredited institution?
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 request for NQA evaluated qualifications, holders of qualifications obtained at unaccredited institutions are likely to struggle securing employment and gaining 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 students to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling for studies so that they do not fall prey to these bogus institutions.
How do I verify the accreditation status of an institution?
The NQA assists prospective students 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 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, please contact:
Tel. +264 61 384 100
Email: marketing@namqa.org