About
HOME // ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Conference Theme: The Establishment, Evolution and Future of the NQF.
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) will mark the 30th anniversary of the SAQA Act on 4 October 2025, celebrating three decades of pioneering contributions to the country’s education and training landscape. The SAQA Act, No. 58 of 1995 promulgated in 1995 in the wake of South Africa’s democratic transition, and as one of the first Education and Training Acts, and SAQA was established under this Act. SAQA has played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the NQF, and the conference which will take place from 06 – 09 October 2025 and will provide an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s journey, its achievements, and the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and accessibility of education and training for all South Africans.
Over the past thirty years, SAQA has implemented the NQF, ensuring an integrated framework that promotes the recognition of learning achievements and facilitates learner access and mobility across different education and training pathways. This period has seen significant progress in addressing historical inequities, enhancing quality assurance mechanisms, recognition of prior learning and fostering an inclusive approach to education.
The conference will not only honor past achievements but also address the current challenges facing SAQA. The digital transformation of education, the persistent skills mismatch in the labor market, and the need for sustainable practices in education and training are some of the critical issues that will be explored. The event will bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including government, academia, industry, learners, and civil society, to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborative planning for the future.
Sub-themes
Historical Overview of the SA NQF: Theme to focus on a comprehensive overview of SAQA’s journey, highlighting key milestones and impacts, and reflecting on the progress in implementing the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
Global discourse around the National Qualifications Frameworks including regional meta frameworks: this should explore international best practices and alignments for global recognition of qualifications, artificial intelligence and the impact on recognition of qualifications, microcredentials and opportunities for expanding international collaborations and partnerships.
Systematic view of the quality assurance system – the focus should be on a coordinated quality assurance system with quality councils, education and training providers, professional bodies and government departments. It includes effective QA mechanisms, innovations in QA practices, role of Professional Bodies.
Learner-centric approaches to education training – promotion of lifelong learning including articulation.
Flexible Learning-and-Work Pathways for Social Justice, Development, Innovation.