Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has recently responded to allegations of circulating media reports that some of the courses that they offer are not accredited.
In a statement published on the university’s social media platforms, WSU explained that all the courses they offer are accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and two other corresponding organisations.
CHE is the accrediting body for higher education qualifications and programmes offered by higher education institutions in South Africa. A qualification or programme must be accredited by the CHE and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) before it can be offered.
The university further stated that all three organisations have reviewed their records and confirmed that the programmes listed below and in the newspaper article that broke the story, meet all the requirements for them to be offered.
They are on the Programme and Qualification Mix (PQM) of the university, they are accredited, and they are registered on the NQF:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Senior Phase and Further
- Education and Training Phase Teaching, including the PGCE in Senior Phase and Further Education(Humanities)
- PGCE in Senior Phase and Further Education (Languages)
- PGCE in Senior Phase and Further Education(Science)
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- Bachelor of Social Science
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Social Science Extended(ECP)
- Bachelor of Social Science (ECP)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours
- Bachelor of Social Science (Honours)
- Bachelor of Social Work
- BSc Honours in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Computer Science (ECP)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Sciences
- Master of Medicine in Diagnostic Radiology
- Master of Medicine in Family Medicine
- Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery
- Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health
- Master of Medicine in Psychiatry
- Master of Medicine in Paediatric Surgery
- Master of Science in Chemical Pathology
- Master of Science in Physiological Sciences
- Master of Science in Medical Microbiology
The university also pointed out that they offer five programmes, all of which are continuations of legacy qualifications that have been formally accredited as connected to the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF). They are the following:
- Advanced Diploma in Internal Auditing
- Advanced Diploma in Journalism
- BSc Honours in Zoology
- Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Chemical Pathology.
The CHE confirmed that they have met with the institution to confirm the record. The CHE is also currently undertaking a full institutional audit at Walter Sisulu University, as part of a national round of institutional audits that is currently underway.
