| [Registered Qual & Unit Std Home page] [Search Qualifications] [Search Unit Standards] |
|
|
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: |
| Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 120685 | Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner-PSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Higher Occupational Cert | Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security | Sovereignty of the State | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 133 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 05 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0614/23 | 2023-03-08 | 2028-03-08 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2029-03-08 | 2031-03-08 | |||
| 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 |
| Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Refugee Status Determination Officer (RSDO). An RSDO adjudicates asylum seeking applications to determine and grant or reject refugee status in accordance with the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act no 130 of 1998 as amended in 2017) and its regulations of 2000 with all the amendments. RSDOs distinguish fraudulent applications, detect identity theft and refer fraudulent applications for investigation, thus strengthening the national security, protecting the sovereignty of the state and communities from potentially corrupt individuals and abuse of asylum processes. Typical graduate attributes the learner will acquire include critical analysis, critical thinking, good communication skills and non-adversarial demeanour towards asylum seekers and refugees. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: States that are party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or do have a fair and efficient national asylum procedure in place, have the primary responsibility to conduct Refugee Status Determination (RSD). International refugee protection in Africa is governed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Convention, which in itself is a humanitarian response to the individual as well as the mass character of the refugee phenomenon in Africa. Globally, international refugee protection is governed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR also ensures the integrity of resettlement operations by creating and implementing anti-fraud mechanisms and processes. Asylum seeking and refugee status are a growing global phenomenon, impacting severely on host countries. The growing need for international protection and compliance with international human rights obligations, requires state parties to the Convention to put measures in place to build capacity in terms of the asylum-seeking and refugee adjudication systems, hence the identified need to ensure that Refugee Status Determination Officers (RSDOs) provide relevant and professional services in compliance with international standards and obligations. Refugee influx and settlements can have a negative and positive impact on the economy and society of the host country. Host countries can positively benefit from skilled asylum seekers and refugees and diversity of cultures, strengthening national brain gain and economic development. On the other hand, asylum and international protection, if not properly managed, can lead to the abuse of asylum management system, straining public and private services, displacing nationals from the employment market and undermine social cohesion. It is within this context that the RSDO plays an important role in the adjudication of applications for asylum from persons fleeing persecutions from their countries of origin, in need of international protection. It is important that RSDOs must apply risk-based approach when examining applications, documentations and undertake interviews to adjudicate asylum seekers' applications consistently with relevant national legislations and international law. RSDOs must ensure that RSD related services, reception, registration and decision making are carried out in compliance with international conventions and treaties. The Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer at NQF Level 5 has been specifically designed for the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials. This qualification is aimed at learners employed as RSDOs and those who intend to pursue a career specifically within the refugee affairs discipline. It provides learners with opportunities for professional development and career advancement within the broader constituencies of the Safety in Society community that will contribute to providing a safe and secure environment for all the people in the Republic of South Africa. Even though RSDOs currently employed at DHA are the main target group, as the need arises, unemployed youth may also enrol to serve the aims of the National Development Plan (NDP). Other registered qualifications related to administrative functions at NQF Level 5 are generic in nature, while this occupational qualification is a fit-for-purpose qualification ensuring that learners develop an in-depth understanding of the national and international legislation and conventions; risks associated with this occupation and that the Sovereignty of State is maintained. The DHA is the only Department mandated in terms of legislation to provide this service in compliance with South Africa's international obligation. Learning typical pathways provided by this qualification will enable learners the opportunity for professional development and career advancement within the broader constituencies of the Safety in Society through further studies in the area of Paralegal Practice and Policing.These learners will contribute to providing a safe and secure environment for all the people in the Republic of South Africa. Refugee Status Determination Officers can also embark on a management career in immigration services and support the desired organisational transformation and positively influence service delivery. |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 57 Practical Skill Modules: Total number of credits for Practical Skills Modules: 46 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 30 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Conduct refugee status determination functions in compliance with the prescripts of the legislative framework.
2. Authenticate and process asylum seeker applications for refugee status determination in accordance with the prescripts of the legislative framework. 3. Conduct general administration functions in terms of the Refugees Act and other legislations ensuring safe-keeping of confidential information and face-value documentation. 4. Implement work processes in accordance with the principles of Batho-Pele, ensuring professionalism, code of conduct and ethics. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
ELO1: Conduct refugee status determination functions in compliance with the prescripts of the legislative framework. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: ELO2: Authenticate and process asylum seeker applications for refugee status determination in accordance with the prescripts of the legislative framework. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: ELO3: Conduct general administration functions in terms of the Refugees Act and other legislations ensuring safe-keeping of confidential information and face-value documentation. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: ELO4: Implement work processes in accordance with the principles of Batho-Pele, ensuring professionalism, code of conduct and ethics. INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT: Integrated Formative Assessment The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment. Integrated Summative Assessment An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The International Comparability for the Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer was done with two countries, namely Malta & Switzerland.There were, however, no qualifications found in these countries and other parts of the world for this exercise, except for the best practices and standards.
Malta In this country, comparison was made to the training programme and curriculum of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) offered by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). This training programme is internationally recognised and is offered in many international languages.The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) was created in terms of the European Union Regulation 439/2010 to increase the cooperation of European Union member states on asylum, to improve the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, and to support member states under pressure.The EUAA expanded its specialised and certified training to asylum and reception officials across Europe to member states through the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in accordance with the Agency's Training and Learning Strategy and the enhanced Training Quality Assurance Framework. The comprehensive training is offered in the form of modules and the learning management system (LMS) enables online, self-paced learning combined with face-to-face sessions.This training is earmarked for policy officers, researchers, registration officers, resettlement officers, interpreters, reception officials, managers, directors, and team leaders working in the asylum context.The level of the training is not specified. The duration is specified in terms of self-study plus face-to-face hours and totals up to 1100 hours. The modules are grouped into categories as indicated below. Similarities: Similarities between the Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer and the European program comprise mostly content elements. Both have a focus on human rights, democracy, diversity and equity. Both include aspects related to Governmental policies as well as aspects on the history of refugee and migration. In both cases, the target groups are identified as persons employed in an asylum context. When considering the knowledge and practical skills components of the Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer which requires 1330 hours), it is very similar to the 1100 hours of the EASO training programme. Differences: The Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer includes a work experience component and an external assessment, and as such differs from the EASO training programme. Switzerland A second comparison was conducted in terms of internationally accepted best practices as directed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and offered as a globally available handbook and selected short programmes.The best practices are provided for in the Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees.These best practices are based on the knowledge accumulated by the High Commissioner's Office over a period of over 25 years, and the content covered in the handbook include: Criteria for the Determination of Refugee Status comprising: Procedures for the Determination of Refugee Status comprising: This best-practices handbook is supported by training provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Training Service, as encompassed in the guide: Determination of Refugee Status RLD 2.This training follows a similar structure as the handbook but supports the learning through case studies and examples. The duration, credits or level of this training is not specified. Similarities: The Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer encompasses the above listed aspects and best practices covered in this handbook and the Determination of Refugee Status RLD 2 training programme. Differences: The Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer includes a work experience component and an external assessment, and as such differs from handbook and the Determination of Refugee Status RLD 2 training programme. Conclusion: This Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer compares favourably with the competencies covered in the two international programmes, in terms of their scope and curriculum content. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal, vertical and diagonal articulation options.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: Diagonal Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: Criteria for the accreditation of providers Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code are: Higher Occupational Certificate: Refugee Status Determination Officer: 335903-000-00-00. Encompassed Trades: This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD: Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION None |
| 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. |