SayPro Transparency and Accountability

Report by: Chief Research Officer, SCRR (SayPro) on Education

Date: February 2025

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Purpose of the Report

The SayPro Monthly February QCTO New Course Upload Report serves as an essential tool for maintaining transparency and accountability within SayPro’s educational framework. The primary goals of this report are:

1. To keep SayPro’s management and educational teams informed on the ongoing progress of course submissions to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
2. To ensure a systematic tracking of the approval process and the subsequent feedback provided on submitted courses.
3. To highlight any challenges encountered during the course upload process and propose actionable solutions.
4. To provide updates on the number of courses that have been successfully uploaded to QCTO’s platform, indicating the growth of SayPro’s educational offerings and compliance with regulatory standards.

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1. Course Submission and Approval Process

Course Submissions in February 2025:

In February, SayPro submitted a total of 12 new courses for accreditation through the QCTO platform. This marks a significant increase from the previous month, demonstrating SayPro’s commitment to enhancing its educational portfolio and ensuring that our curriculum is in line with industry standards and demands.

The courses submitted cover a variety of sectors, including:

• Technical Skills & Vocational Training
• Business Management & Leadership
• Health & Safety Training
• ICT and Digital Skills

Out of the 12 courses submitted, 10 have received initial approval from the QCTO, while 2 courses are still in the review process. The following steps are being actively monitored:

• Feedback on the submitted courses has been received, and 7 courses are in the final revision stage based on QCTO’s feedback.
• Final Approval Status: 5 courses have reached the stage of final approval and are now listed as accredited programs on the QCTO platform.

Challenges Encountered:

One of the main challenges encountered in February was the delayed responses from QCTO assessors due to the high volume of submissions. This has impacted the speed of approvals for some of our courses, which has led to the delay in feedback for 2 of our submitted courses. Efforts are being made to streamline communications with QCTO and to ensure that the approval timeline is expedited in future months.

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2. Upload and Feedback Analysis

The SayPro educational team closely monitors all feedback and recommendations from the QCTO. Based on feedback provided for the courses submitted in January and early February:

• Positive Responses: The QCTO has appreciated the comprehensive structure and adherence to regulatory guidelines in most of our submissions, particularly with regard to course objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods.
• Areas of Improvement: A few courses received feedback requesting further clarification on learning outcomes and detailed mapping to NQF (National Qualifications Framework) levels. In addition, several courses need to make revisions related to their alignment with industry needs as defined by the sector standards.

Actions Taken:

• All feedback has been taken into account, and revised versions of the courses are being resubmitted within the designated review period. We expect final approval of these courses by the end of February 2025.
• Internal Team Training: In light of some recurring feedback, an internal workshop is being planned to train course developers on better alignment with QCTO’s accreditation criteria.

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3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The performance of the course upload and approval process is evaluated based on several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Number of Courses Submitted: 12 new courses in February, a 20% increase from January.
• Courses Approved: 10 out of 12 (83% approval rate).
• Courses Pending Approval: 2 courses are awaiting feedback or final approval.
• Average Approval Time: On average, it is taking around 20 days for QCTO to review and provide feedback on submitted courses, up from the 15-day average in the previous quarter.

Conclusion from KPIs: The progress in course uploads and approvals continues to meet expectations. While there is room for improvement in terms of turnaround time for feedback, SayPro is on track to exceed its course submission goals for the first quarter of 2025.

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4. Strategic Recommendations for Next Steps

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the course upload process, the following strategic recommendations are proposed:

1. Enhance Communication Channels with QCTO: A more regular and direct line of communication with QCTO officials would help reduce feedback delays and speed up the approval process.
2. Targeted Course Development: Based on feedback received in February, SayPro will place greater emphasis on developing courses aligned with current industry trends and emerging skill requirements, particularly in areas of digital skills, green energy, and technological advancements.
3. Internal Review Process: Strengthening our internal pre-submission review process will help ensure that all submitted courses meet QCTO’s standards and expectations from the outset, reducing the need for revisions and speeding up the overall approval timeline.
4. Capacity Building for Staff: Offering further training and development for the course development team, with a specific focus on understanding QCTO’s evolving accreditation criteria, will be vital in maintaining our high submission standards.

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5. Conclusion

The SayPro Monthly February QCTO New Course Upload Report reflects significant progress in course submissions and approvals. While there are a few challenges in terms of feedback timelines, the overall outlook for the organization’s educational offerings remains positive. SayPro remains committed to enhancing transparency and accountability within its educational processes, and we continue to work closely with QCTO to ensure that our courses not only meet but exceed national standards for quality education and training.

Prepared by:
Chief Research Officer (SCRR)
SayPro Education Division
February 2025