Learning and Development Professional

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Learning and Development Professional. A Learning and Development Professional communicates, plans, designs and develops, manages, leads teams, guides best practice for diverse learning and development practices and quality assurance to ensure all-inclusive learning in compliance with established principles in line with Education, Training and Development practices (ETDP) legal, regulatory and policy frameworks including standards and guidelines. Typical graduate attributes of a Learning and Development Professional are the following but not limited to deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth; analytical and critical thinking; problem solving; professionalism, teamwork and communication skills. A qualified learner will be able to: • Establish and promote stakeholder networking and collaboration in vocational or occupational learning and development institution. • Manage the implementation of workplace-based learning programmes/bursaries. • Design and develop learning materials for learning and development interventions. • Design and develop quality management system for learning and development provisioning quality assurance. • Design and develop Assessment, Moderation and Recognition of Prior Learning Tools. • Develop a project(s) and manage project-related processes in an occupational or vocational learning and development intervention context. • Evaluate and implement multi-modal leaning interventions. • Lead and manage learning and development interventions in occupational or vocational setting.

The changing landscape in education, learning/training and development in South Africa has led to the review, re-alignment and development of a number of nationally recognised qualifications to address the skills shortages in the country. Most notably, the growing demographics and economic divide between the rich and the poor requires the key role-players and stakeholders in the education, learning/training and development field to develop and implement skills development interventions to close the existing skills gaps in the labour market and improve the lives of South Africans. This qualification will benefit the learning and development labour market and society as qualifying Learning and Development Professionals will create competency-based learning roadmaps to drive business outcomes, educate and develop skills of individuals increasing the value, efficiency and productivity of labour thus contributing to the economy and social development. Currently there are qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework at NQF Level 4, 5 and 7 for the learning and development field, hence there is an established need for the Learning and Development Professional to breach the gap between the existing qualifications to allow career pathing. The qualification is designed for individuals who wish to practice in learning and development field as Learning and Development Professionals. The qualification will provide learners with requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to execute learning and development strategies, learning materials, tools, policies for quality assurance, lead and manage projects for occupational or vocational learning and development interventions. Qualifying learners will find employment opportunities in private companies and public institutions, skills development providers or institutions of learning, not-for-profit organisations or become self-employed as Independent Consultants operating as Learning Materials Developers, Assessors, Moderators, and Recognition of Prior Learning Advisors promoting a learning culture and addressing special needs. Currently there are no similar qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at this level. No licensing or membership requirements apply to this qualification at the time of development. This qualification will enable learners to articulate learning and development or human resources management and development related occupations and/or qualifications.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): • Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification. • Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL. RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: • Occupational Certificate: Training and Development Practitioner, NQF Level 5; or • Human Resources Development or Human Resources Management qualification at NQF Level 5 with minimum 3 years assessed work experience in the Learning and Development field.

• Lead and manage a team to enhance a positive and constructive quality culture and render a professional quality assurance service.
• Evaluate and apply project management techniques in learning and development interventions.
• Conduct research and advise an organisation regarding occupational or vocational education, training and development.
• Evaluate, design and develop occupational or vocational learning materials, standards, assessments, moderations and RPL instruments.
• Evaluate and manage internal and external moderation and/or verification of assessments in an occupational or vocational context.
• Support, guide, and coach in an occupational or vocational education, training and development environment.