Accreditation for unisa (southAfrica)

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Angie38, Oct 30, 2011.

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  1. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    SA Uni- freestate

    [COLOR="oliveAs the free state is quite a far off place in the middle of no where."][/COLOR]
    :)
    (remember Im an XSouthAfrican)
    If I had to choose a uni in SA I would choose
    1
    stellenboche (not sure of the spelling) which is in Cape Town
    2 Wits (Johannesburg)
    3
    Pretoria Uni
    and \or Unisa
     
  2. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    I did try contact the Psychology dpt (as I want to study edunational psych & the educational dpt afew months ago as of yet I have yet to recieve a reply
     
  3. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    Some of those ZA schools did not have programs in which I am interested, and some are not willing to "go the distance." (do distance programs). Also, Bloemfontein may be in the middle of nowhere, but what does it matter if you are a distance student where the university is located? UFS is willing to work with distance students, and are very receptive in comparison to other ZA schools that I have dealt with.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2011
  4. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    Did you mange to get all your study materials via mail on time? Do they answer your e mails in a reasnable time period?
    Who were your supervisors ? Afrikaners or ... (I appologise if my questions are not PC but having lived in SA for many years I know that things arent very punctual there and tend to get messy.
     
  5. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    I would contact one of the individuals named below. I would wait a week, and then try another one. Maryna de Kock would be a good person with whom to start.

    Contact us Unisa Online - Contact us

    Contact information
    General enquiries: Maryna de Kock
    BPsych degrees: Endriette Meyer
    Honours degrees: Germinah Menyatswe
    Masters degrees: Christa Barrish or Clinical Masters degrees: Matlhodi Lekgoathi
    Doctors degrees: Christa Barrish
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2011
  6. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    Intresting Perhaps I should look into it too
    :)
     
  7. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    WOW Many many 10X Sure am Glad I found this place :)

    BTW I did find Walden uni (in the US) as an Online LD other then the very steep tuition fees (for an Israeli ) all one needs as a pulse to inrtoll?
    Do they have a good name? reputation?
     
  8. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

  9. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    Walden is a decent, (but expensive) school. If you are going to teach this subject in the US online environment, it will serve you well there. Not sure about psychology though. What are you going to do with this degree? If you are going to stay in Israel, you need to check what credentials you will need to do what you want to do.
     
  10. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    From The google I did on Walden I realized that its too expensive for me.
    way out of my budget .
    Being an XsouthAfrican I know of unisa and prefere to study in a uni I have heard of (1)
    plus the tution being in rands is not expensive.

    I know that a degree from Unisa will not give me a licence as a psychologist Im well aware of that fact.
    But I am hoping that the Masters in Edu psychology will perhaps lead to a possition in special education administration ect.. or perhaps some work as a private practice Learning dissabitities coach (or ADD coaching). Or psychotherapist (private parctice).
    Im not realy intrested in working in academia
    :)
     
  11. major56

    major56 Active Member

    “Unisa received a Royal Charter in 1877. It currently operates under the Statute of the University of South Africa issued in terms of the Higher Education Act (No. 101 of 1997), and is accredited by the South African Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Its qualifications (including those of the SBL) are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).”
    University of South Africa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    It’s my understanding that UNISA degrees are generally recognized as academic qualifications internationally; nonetheless as regards specifically European acceptance, I’m uncertain as to the perceived esteem of degree granting institutions where in the “pecking-order” UNISA would fall. At any rate, perception is reality to the perceiver and perceptions fluctuate.
     
  12. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Israel is very though when it comes to recognition of academic degrees.
    There very specific requirements and Israel goes by its own list. I would speculate that yes UNISA would be listed as a recognized university but in general Israeli rules for foreign degree recognition is a requirement that 75% of the degree be completed in a classroom that means that for a 4 year degree 3 must be classroom or recognized DL classes model.

    Since UNISA offer research degrees as well, these may not be officially recognized in Israel for registration with Lishkat Academaim or for semi government employers who go by Histadrut - to be ranked Academai, that means that salary and benefits will suffer.

    I know some people who moved back from NY to Israel with various US degrees. FOr example Engineers in order to get Israeli recognition had to have RA + ABET degree with some 160 credit hours. Engineering Technologists also had some requirement I don't remember at this time.
    At least one case of DETC degree I know that had no problem to be recognized by HR in different companies but officially failed to be evaluated as Equivalent to Israeli Engineering degree it was recognized as General degree of 120 credits. So private companies are more flexible in this area.

    This should give you more info:

    http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/Owl/English/Organization/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2011
  13. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    I realize that Israel is quite stricket in their requirements therefore I dont expect to be an academic. I also realise that a unisa MA does not give me licence to practice in state run institution.
    But I do hope that having an MA after my name in my CV will improve my status somewhat.

    Todah{ 10X}
     
  14. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Bevakasha :)

    UNISA degree is a fine degree, I think in public sector it has value as any other MA degree. Yes for some positions on Resume it can demonstrate that you have a Masters Degree. I also seen when having MA on resume for some positions was what we call overqualified stigma.

    What I like about the UNISA is that they are recognized university and is reasonably priced, you may have good chance to get Academai status, You can contact the Israeli office for the evaluation.

    If I had UNISA MA degree I would be proud of it.

    Wile Israel is strict when it comes to degree evaluation they are also fair, what usually is done is they will provide a list of classes to take and you can go back to UNISA and take these classes.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 31, 2011
  15. DistanceGrad

    DistanceGrad New Member

    Angie,

    I graduated with a DLitt et Phil from UNISA. I completed my degree eight years ago. The UNISA degree at the Masters level is completely legitimate and will be accepted globally. Check with local licensing authorities if you plan to use your degree for professional/mental health provider purposes. Your dissertation will be much longer and involved than what a US school would require. I cannot speak for an Israeli school. Based on your dissertation and the preparation that UNISA will require, your degree will be deemed top notch globally. That I am sure of. My doctoral thesis was over 400 pages long and it lead to the publication of 4 academic publications concurrently or following it which added to my reputation in my field. UNISA faculty will not allow faulty work.

    When I originally applied, I did with the help of John Craparo who was the US agent for UNISA at the time. He got many of us through the process. He was an agent for them for at least 5 years and still may be involved. The university has changed a great deal as apartheid disappeared. The teaching is still top notch, but the changes in the political climate and economics led to the the consolidation of Teknikon and Vista into UNISA. This brought about much more bureaucracy and many more students into the mix. When I started there, there were about 130,000 registered students, now there are about twice that. With a faculty and administrative staff of 1,900, UNISA service levels have dropped. Still a great institution, but it is having growing pains which they have tried to fix with technology. Those fixes are OK at best from what I hear from faculty I stay in touch with.

    The DETC relationship was spearheaded by Jan Munnik who ran the department in charge of relationship with independent colleges and agencies affiliated with UNISA globally. The DETC link was meant to forge a closer relationship with the US. John Craparo was also building a university in the US that would use UNISA coursework. John ran out of time to attend to all the tasks involved as he was a business leader at a big computer company in the US. He decided to end his work toward forming a school from scratch after getting state approval to do so. I think the idea of national or regional accreditation was daunting, but I think he is a pretty brilliant guy and would have gotten it done. He had one great board of directors which included the former Vice Chancellor of UNISA and several university presidents from the US. UNISA dropped DETC after John exited the scene. I believe UNISA took DETC accreditation to help him get a foothold in national accreditation for his school. That is about all I know of that, John could probably fill you in more.

    When I worked through the program, John Craparo was a tremendous help. He had many contacts there and what seemed like good friendships with faculty. When I started working through the application process, I tried to use Michael Eselin in Canada. People on this board (or the one that came before it) were down on Craparo after several unqualified could not gain acceptance into UNISA. I believed Craparo would not be helpful because of the comments I saw that spoke against him. I tried to use the Canada professor. He wanted a too much money for what seemed like a process I could do myself. After trying at the time, I privately turned to Craparo, who was not charging anything for his time and services. He walked me through the paperwork, getting my matriculation exemption certificate needed at the time and a host of other things. I had a research based Masters behind me and John insured that UNISA received copies as well as other published research. He was certified by UNISA to actually certify my research and transcripts. I was put before a Faculty committee in weeks and completed my Thesis Proposal module in six months. I completed my degree in less than two years with the help of a fantastic promoter (Supervisor).

    My degree was accepted here in the US with no questions when I went for a teaching position. I teach at a large state school down south where I also run a research cohort. I would do UNISA again in a minute. Do not bother using the Canadian agent. Just follow the directions that UNISA now posts plainly on its website at unisa.ac.za. It may take time, but if you fill out the paperwork and have the right entrance qualifications you will have no problems. Do not try to play the system by applying with the wrong credentials or experience, you will be rejected out of hand.

    Do not bother trying to contact embassy or consuls in your country. They will not have the time or resources to get involved with a process that UNISA spells out on their website. Just fill out the paperwork, submit it and wait. This may seem too long a process, but it is what it is. Once you are accepted, delays are minimal from my experience.

    Good luck...
    DG
     
  16. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    :)

    The Academic status doesnt realy concern me. Im not looking for a uni teaching postion or contineuing for PhD degree. The stuatus thing on my cv is what concerns me and the MA in psychology is what Ive wanted since my school days :). Unfortunately an MA psych degree from Israeli college or uni is very difficult to get into.You need very high SAT's and Very high BA grades. only the cream of the crop get in.
    Its neither Unisa or nothing
    :-\
     
  17. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm not trying to be critical, but your command of written English could stand improvement. I have to wonder whether a competitive program where English is the language of instruction would admit you.
     
  18. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    Unisa

    I believe that having a SouthAfrican citizenship and having completed highschool in SA my command of English is just fine thank you.
    Having lived in SA for 22 years (between 1975-1995) my English should not be an issue.

    I do have Learning dissability so I do have spelling errors but I have someone who checks my assignments and stuff.

    :)
     
  19. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Touché ... :biggrin:
     
  20. Angie38

    Angie38 New Member

    :)
    Any more info on UniSA? Who are the supervisors? Do the books and study aids arrive on time?

    10x again
     

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