How to choose the right institution for you

There have been many developments in the higher education sector especially a rise in the number of institutions from which students can choose when considering their further education.

Faced with this increase in choice, it is natural for young people to be anxious about their decision. A massive part of this concern is whether the qualification you receive after three or four years of study, will be respected in the workforce, whether it will position you well to land your first job, and whether it will help you build the career of your dreams.

“It is so important that future students don’t base their decision on their gut feel or vague perceptions,” said Dr Felicity Coughlan, from The Independent Institute of Education.

She added that there is a concrete checklist that prospective students should measure their chosen institution against and, if all the boxes are checked, they can rest assured that their choice of institution can help them achieve their dreams.

“Ultimately, you have to make an informed choice based on your personal vision and circumstances, and you should not blindly follow a direction just because everyone else is going that route, or because you think that’s the way to go.”

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Accreditation
Most importantly, your institution must be registered and accredited. South Africa has a single quality assurance system and one National Qualifications Framework, which means that any institution offering a registered and accredited qualification is offering a qualification of equal standing. So if your institution is listed on the Department of Higher Education and Training’s list of registered higher education institutions and colleges, you don’t need to be concerned about whether the institution is called a university, a college, or a private higher education institution.

Employer recognition
The work force has changed dramatically over the past decade, and the economic climate is tough. That means prospective students should make sure that their qualification and their choice of institution is well respected by employers and in the market. Generic three year degrees with no practical experience do not provide a strong competitive advantage after graduation.
The strongest qualifications today are the ones that are closely linked to specific careers and fields, and whose curricula are based on the competencies required to be work-ready from day one.

International recognition
Many students want to know that their qualifications will be internationally recognised. If this is important for you, you should ask your institution about international links and accreditation. Does your institution have links with international exchange programmes, or is it accredited by an independent international accreditation council? All good institutions should be able to provide satisfactory answers to your questions about your potential international opportunities.

Class sizes and student support
Class sizes and student support are crucial for ensuring student success and successful transition into the work force. Individual attention, and being more than a number, can dramatically influence student outcomes. Good institutions will have career centres which assist students and alumni beyond academics. .
“To really make the right choice in terms of the best grounding for your career dreams, you have to look beyond historical perceptions and gut feelings about which way is ‘the best’ way, and make sure your choice is based on the facts about what makes one institution and qualification stand out from the next one,” she said.

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