PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION
The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions is empowered to accredit project and construction management educational programs within any department, school or faculty in institutions of higher learning. This is in line with Section 13(a)(b)(c) of the Project and Construction Management Act (Act No. 48 of 2000), which mandates the Council to conduct accreditation visits within its term of office.
Programme accreditation refers to the assessment of an academic programme, department or institution against predetermined criteria in order to determine whether the programme meets prescribed standards of educational quality, or specified minimum standards set by the accrediting body.
Institutional accreditation seeks to broadly evaluate the overall instructional operations of an educational institution, while programme accreditation evaluates the programmes that prepare graduates for specific careers or professions. Accreditation aims to ensure, and certify, that graduates from these programmes are qualified and competent.
By assuring prospective students and the public that graduates of an accredited institution or programme have achieved a minimum level of competence in their chosen fields of study, it therefore serves as a form of consumer protection (Prados et al, 2005).
The key principle behind accreditation is therefore to ensure that the educational processes produce graduates who are fit for the purpose, are technically competent, and possess the range of skills required (Institute of Engineers, 1996).
By providing standards by which to judge programmes, accreditation also serves to promote the mobility of graduates and academic staff and increases competitiveness.
In the case of the SACPCMP, which enforces its statutory accreditation mandate, programme accreditation is enforced by government on behalf of the public where the public interest is at stake and needs to be ensured.
In the context of the Act no. 48 of 2000: Project and Construction Management Professions Act ’accreditation’ means recognition by the Council of educational programmes offered by educational institutions relating to the project and construction management professions, and after the process of evaluation.
In a nutshell accreditation offers the following benefits:
- It ensures the protection of public interest by guaranteeing competent and ethically oriented professionals.
- It acts as a quality assurance tool to programme providers.
- It performs an oversight role to the government.
- It ensures that there a standard benchmark for evaluating similar programmes.
- It secures greater employment mobility for programme graduates.
It should be noted that professionals need to participate in accreditation in order to convey to the institutions that the industry will only allow graduates from accredited programmes to practice professionally.
ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES
| ITEM | INSTITUTION | ACCREDITED PROGRAMMES | Accreditation Status as at 31 March 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. (Provisionally approved) |
| 2. | University of Johannesburg (UJ) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 3. | University of Pretoria (UP) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 4. | Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 5. | University of the Free State (UFS) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 6. | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) | BHSD
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 7. | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) | CM
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 8. | University of Cape Town (UCT) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 9. | Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 10. | Central University of Technology (CUT) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 11. | Durban University of Technology (DUT) |
|
To maintain the full five (5) years of Accreditation. |
| 12. | Mangosuthu University of Technology |
|
One (1) year conditional accreditation |
STUDENT CHAPTER
The Construction Industry provides a great deal of opportunities for many different professions. You have seen many of these professionals living out their career choices at construction sites all over the country and, indeed, the world.
We know that the Construction Industry, like many other sectors, is plagued with perceptions that might prevent people from pursuing careers in the field. Many think, for example, that construction workers never attended school, while the Construction Industry is a vital employer in the nation’s economy, providing a vast array of much needed jobs.
It offers you the opportunity to create and build. The industry itself is diverse and embraces all kinds of construction projects such as offices, buildings, highways and hospitals.
The purpose of this guide is to give you a clear understanding of what is required of you to embark on a career in the Construction Industry. You are about to enter an exciting and life changing period in your life. Do not rush into decisions about your career without clearly understanding what it is all about.
RESEARCH
In its efforts to support South Africa’s youth who are in the process of finalising their Construction Health and Safety, Construction Management or Project Construction Management studies, the SACPCMP has provided a platform that enables students to access the Construction Sector for university research requirements.
The Council receives, on a regular basis, requests from students and researchers to conduct research involving employees or Registered Persons. Through a systematic request process, and following the submission of the necessary application documents, the SACPCMP will, on behalf of the student and/or researcher, invitations to participate in surveys or interviews, or distribute questionnaires etc to the relevant stakeholder group within the SACPCMP’s ambit. Application forms and the relevant standard operating procedure pertaining to application for permission to conduct research via the SACPCMP can be accessed via the SACPCMP’s website.
It is recommended that research requests are provided to the Council well in advance of the associated deadlines as:
- Research request distributions will be executed by the SACPCMP on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Research requests will not be distributed over public holidays or during the December industry break.
It must be noted that the SACPCMP does not subscribe to any particular views, inferences or subject matter included in the distributed research-requests, and in distributing the said requests to its stakeholders, does so in the interest of supporting the development of the Built Environment skills pipeline.
WHAT IS CPD?
CPD is the learning that takes place in all contexts in life – formally, non-formally and informally. It includes learning behaviours and obtaining knowledge; understanding; attitudes; values and competencies for personal growth, social and economic well-being, democratic citizenship, cultural identity, and employability.
Importance of CPD:
- Helps you become more effective at work.
- Increase the understanding of the implications of your work.
- Enhances your confidence with your work.
- Promotes growth.
- Increases your understanding.
- Equips you for new challenges.
- Provides a professional sense of direction.
Competency-based CPD
The Council conducts competency assessments based on standards established through consultation with SAQA, its bodies and VAs as stated in Section 13 (d) of the Act, when a professional is initially registered.
Thus, CPD aims at maintaining and enhancing competence, which leads to achieving progression in expertise throughout the registered person’s professional practice. There are two key elements connected to this:
- demonstrating competence through the assessment of milestones, which are linked to the compliance cycle.
- based on competency standards frameworks for the relevant category identifying gaps in professionals’ skills, which are occasioned by the evolving scope of professional practice, to guide ongoing learning.
The aim of competency-based approach is to:
- improve is the performance in the workplace and the standards of service rendered by registered persons, which address Section 14 (h) of the Act.
- guide professionals who are striving to acquire new competencies in response to, amongst others, changes in professional practice, new technology and community norms.
- describe the competencies that must be maintained in general.
- identify of professional practice-specific needs.
CPD Requirements and Compliance
A CPD cycle runs for 3 years. In these 3 years, a registered person is required to engage in CPD activities in order to be compliant.
The Council has classified CPD into 4 categories that you need to engage in to comply.
- Professional Practice
- Personal Development
- Mentorship
- Public Policy Priority Issues (PPPI)
Required CPD Credits
| Timeframe | Professional Practice Credits | Professional Development Credits | Mentorship Credits | PPPI Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| TOTAL (per category) | 30 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| CYCLE TOTAL | 50 CPD Credits |
Validated CPD Activities and Courses
When you decide to engage in CPD activities with the aim of acquiring CPD Hours for Personal Development and PPPI, make sure that the activity/course is validated by SACPCMP. Activities and courses that are validated have been assessed and their outcome, effectiveness and relevance have been measured and the relevant CPD Credits have been allocated.
Activities and courses that are not validated by the Council cannot be considered for CPD. To ensure that an activity or course is validated by the Council, kindly click HERE for a list of CPD Accredited courses.
CPD ONLINE PORTAL
To ensure that you easily manage your CPD activities, SACPCMP has an online portal that you can access at any time. You can do the following on the MyMembership portal:
- Upload CPD activities
- View and download your CPD Statement
- Purchase Video Bundles
- Access invoices and statements
CPD POLICY
It is of utmost importance for you as a registered professional to familiarise yourself with the SACPCMP CPD Policy, the policy can be found here.