All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: |
National Certificate: Text Editing and Document Design |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
49316 | National Certificate: Text Editing and Document Design | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
SGB Translation, Interpreting and Language Editing | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
CHE - Council on Higher Education | HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National Certificate | Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language | Language | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 145 | Level 7 | NQF Level 07 | Regular-Unit Stds Based |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered" |
SAQA 06120/18 | 2018-07-01 | 2018-12-31 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2019-12-31 | 2022-12-31 |
In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
This qualification is aimed at practising and aspirant text editors and document designers. For the purpose of this qualification, text is defined as a piece of language usage experienced and accepted by the text participants involved as a unit on the basis of syntactic, semantic and pragmatic grounds (based on a definition by Carstens, 1997). The qualification aims to enhance the quality of education and training in text editing and document design by ensuring that both practical and underpinning theoretical components are incorporated. The qualification also contributes to an integrated national framework for learning achievements through its articulation with other qualifications in this field and sub-field.
For many learners who have been practicing in the field of text editing, this qualification will provide recognition of their competence. It will facilitate access to the NQF by recognizing learner competence, and improve their mobility and progression within education, training and career paths at higher levels on the NQF. This qualification will also allow new entrants to achieve and ensure their employability and productivity as text editors, thereby improving their employment opportunities. Qualified, competent text editors and document designers will ensure that South African published text is of suitable quality, and will contribute to transforming South Africa's reading culture. In addition, quality text contributes to the development of a multi-lingual society, especially in terms of languages that are in the process of further development and transformation for academic, economic, scientific and other purposes. A positive contribution can be made to increasing publishing in African languages by facilitating the documentation of existing terminology and the development of new and/or equivalent terminology in African languages. Qualified learners are capable of: In addition, qualified learners elect to become capable of: Rationale To date in South Africa no recognition has been given for competence in text editing and document design, and learning takes place mainly within an in-service context. There has been no structured career-oriented programme delivery. A National Certificate in Text Editing and Document Design (NQF Level 7) is required because there is a need for improved competence and recognition for competence in these areas. Currently there are fewer opportunities for in-service training than in the past. Moreover, in-service training has focused primarily on learners' attaining practical experience and has not included sufficiently underpinning theory. There is a need for the improvement of standards in text editing and document design in South Africa, where the application of these competencies in a professional capacity will ensure that qualifying learners are market-ready and productive as soon as they qualify. Learners include users of all official South African and any other languages. The qualification has also been designed to provide access to education and training by means of Recognition of Prior Learning within the competence areas. The qualification design includes a planned combination of outcomes aimed at meeting the demand for: Learners are mostly freelancers who prepare text for publication (i.e., editing such text) in one or more medium, for print or electronic media. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
The qualification design and size is based on the assumption that a learner embarking on learning towards this qualification has already attained a first degree (NQF Level 6). It is specifically assumed that the learner is already able to:
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) This qualification can be achieved wholly, or in part, through recognition of prior learning. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including previous international or local qualifications, reports, testimonials, mentoring, functions performed, portfolios, work records and performance records. As such, evidence should be judged according to the general principles of assessment described in the notes to assessors below. Learners who have met the requirements of any Unit Standard that forms part of this qualification may apply for recognition of prior learning to the relevant Education and Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA). The applicant must be assessed against the specific outcomes and with the assessment criteria for the relevant Unit Standards. A qualification will be awarded should a learner demonstrate that the exit level outcomes of the qualification have been attained. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
The unit standard entitled "Edit Language usage in text" appears in both Core and Elective components. In the Core component it refers to the learner's first language and the elective it refers to the learner's second language. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
Fundamental and Core
1. Use information sources in the editing process Range: information sources can include persons, reference books, etc. 2. Adapt text structure and sequence for intended medium, audience and purpose. 3. Adapt language, style and presentation for intended medium and audience. 4. Correct language errors in a particular languageRange: errors include spelling, usage, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and style errors. 5. Ensure accuracy and consistency in text based on specific requirementsRange: specific requirements can be based on expert knowledge, general knowledge, format requirements, logic, facts, and conventions 6. Ensure acceptability of language in terms of social and cultural context, medium and audience 7. Select editing method and strategies appropriate for specific contextsRange: editing method is on-screen or paper; method has implications for strategies, methodologies, techniques, etc. 8. Check proofs in page layout form against design specifications. 9. Design documents for intended purpose, media and audiences. Elective (achievement of one outcome is required to qualify) 10. Write specialised information for specific audiencesRange: specific audiences can be specialist or general audiences. 11. Contextualise information in specialised text. 12. Analyse technical information in text. 13. Edit language usage in text in a second language. |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Fundamental and Core
1. 2. Range: standards and conventions can include length, complexity, register, etc. Range: standards include logic, coherence, cohesion (e.g. links, references), etc. 3. Range: presentation form can include prose, tables, graphs, diagrams, illustrations, lists, etc. Range: Stylistic devices include metaphors, figures of speech, clichés, idioms, proverbs, inversions, etc. 4. 5. Range: sources may include source text in the case of editing translated text. Range: categories can include dates, numbers, acronyms, etc. Range: internal consistency relates to headings, subheadings, tables, figures, captions, lists, running headers, table of contents, cross-references, etc. Range: A style sheet is developed if one is not supplied. 6. 7. 8. Range: final stage tasks cannot be done before proof stage; final stage tasks include page numbers in table of contents and index, running heads, footnotes, etc. 9. Elective (achievement of one outcome is required to qualify) 10. 11. 12. 13. Range: language usage includes spelling and grammar, usage of vocabulary and terminology, punctuation marks, elements of other languages, style, register, level of formality. Integrated assessment The assessment criteria in the unit standards are performance-based, assessing applied competence rather than only knowledge, or skills. In addition, learners must demonstrate that they can achieve the outcomes in an integrated manner, dealing effectively with different and random demands related to the environmental conditions in occupational contexts, to qualify. Evidence is required that the learner is able to achieve the exit level outcomes of the qualification as a whole and thus its purpose, at the time of the award of the qualification. Workplace experience can be recognised when assessing towards this qualification. Assessment should not consist only of a single, summative assessment. Formative assessment should be included in assessment plans and implementation, for the purpose of diagnosing, development and remediation. The formative assessment results could form part of a portfolio of evidence for a summative assessment of the overall purpose of learning. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
Internationally, editing competence is mostly achieved via short training courses, the shortest being one day, and these courses are often software focused. The area of competence is generally located within the sub-field of publishing in the field of communication, and is described as copy editing, text editing, or language editing. Structured education and training is presented in Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Japan, etc.
In Japan, the Netherlands and Germany, editing is presented primarily in the form of short courses. Competence addressed includes equivalent components of the South African qualification: briefing of authors, evaluation of text quality, outline-level restructuring of text, structure analysis and improvement, correcting text, and using images. In Australia, most programs combine editing with publishing or writing competence. The qualification that is the equivalent of this South African qualification (in terms of level and credits), a Postgraduate Certificate in Editing, addresses the following areas of competence: In the United Kingdom, editing and publishing are also combined in qualifications. Proofreading and editing programs run over one year, and include the following: In the United Arab Emirates, editing is included as a short course as part of journalism programs. Courses include editing of written articles or spoken presentations and editing of reports in the media. Language barriers prevented comparison with Spain, Austria, Italy, and Germany. A Certificate in Editing program offered in the Unit States of America (USA) includes copy-editing, indexing, manuscript work for publishing and information services, grammar, usage, style, punctuation, content, spelling, how to edit and rewrite text on paper or in digital form. The program design differs from this South African qualification, especially in terms of the Elective component: the USA programs include areas of specialisation such as financial copy editing, book indexing, disk and online editing, manuscript editing, production editing, magazine copyediting, scientific/technical/medical copyediting, legal proofreading, etc. Proofreading and copyediting are core. In Canada, a certification program in English editing is currently being developed. The program is based on an exam covering the following four core areas of skills and knowledge: The Standards Generating Body for Translation, Interpreting and Language Editing wishes to acknowledge the following document consulted: Professional Editorial Standards (Copyright © 1999 by the Editors' Association of Canada/Association canadienne des réviseurs; published online at www.editors.ca). Also, some material in this document is adapted with permission, from Professional Editorial Standards (Copyright © 1999 by the Editors' Association of Canada/Association canadienne des réviseurs; published online at www.editors.ca). |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
Vertical articulation is possible with the National Certificate in Specialised Translation (NQF Level 6). Horizontal articulation on the NQF is possible with the National Diploma in Specialised Translation (NQF Level 7) and the National Diploma in Interpreting (NQF Level 7). |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
Moderation of assessment and accreditation of providers shall be at the discretion of a relevant ETQA as long as it complies with the SAQA requirements. The ETQA is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this qualification. Particular moderation and accreditation requirements are:
|
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by the relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for this qualification. Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this qualification must be registered as an assessor with the ETQA. Assessors registered with the relevant ETQA must carry out the assessment of learners for the qualification and any of the Unit Standards that make up this qualification.
To register as an assessor, the following are required: Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments: In particular, assessors should assess that the learner demonstrates an ability to consider a range of options by: All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well-documented principles: |
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
N/A |
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 117945 | Design documents | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 20 |
Core | 117946 | Edit language usage in text | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 10 |
Core | 117947 | Edit text format and layout | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 10 |
Core | 117950 | Edit text structure | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 20 |
Core | 115083 | Explore research problems | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 30 |
Core | 117949 | Manage editing processes | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 5 |
Core | 117948 | Proofread text for production | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 5 |
Fundamental | 117951 | Analyse text for editing purposes | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 20 |
Elective | 116804 | Collect and collate background information for specific contexts | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 15 |
Elective | 115023 | Contextualise technical information of source text | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 10 |
Elective | 115085 | Decode technical information of source text | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 10 |
Elective | 12157 | Develop and produce information products for government | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 4 |
Elective | 115021 | Identify field-specific technical information of source texts | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 10 |
Elective | 115020 | Use standardised technical language | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 10 |
Elective | 110361 | Write stories for a variety of journalistic purpose in print | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 12 |
Elective | 115081 | Write technical text within a specific field | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 10 |
Elective | 116796 | Analyse linguistic structures | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 15 |
Elective | 116794 | Analyse source messages | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 15 |
Elective | 115080 | Analyse technical information of source texts | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 20 |
Elective | 115082 | Formulate research plans | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 20 |
Elective | 115084 | Reformulate specialised information for any audience | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 25 |
Elective | 115018 | Select technical terminology | Level 7 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7 | 10 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
NONE |
All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |