Author: Tamalene Conlen, Associate Director, Academic Evaluation Services, Inc.

This article will focus on online databases for researching recognition and accreditation of higher educational institutions and programs in Southern Africa (Botswana, Eswatini Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe).

BOTSWANA (the database and NCQF snippets from the BQA website)

The Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA), https://www.bqa.org.bw/, has a comprehensive database of Registered and Accredited Higher Education ETPs (Education and Training Providers), Registered and Accredited Awarding Bodies, NCQF Registered Qualifications, among others. The BQA was established in 2013 to provide and maintain a National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF), as well as to provide quality assurance for all levels of education (from early childhood education to tertiary education).

In the NCQF Registered Qualifications, specific programs can be searched, and the qualification level can be confirmed.

Institutions and universities can be searched in the Registered and Accredited Awarding Bodies and the Registered and Accredited Higher Education ETPs. Samples of both are below. While the Registered and Accredited Higher Education ETPs are recognized as teaching institutions; only the Awarding Bodies have recognition to award the final degrees. So, while Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is in the database, its degrees are not in the Registered Qualifications, whereas the University of Botswana appears in both the Awarding Bodies and the Registered Qualification database.

Vocational training providers may be searched with Registered and Accredited TVET ETPs and specific vocational programs/qualifications may be searched with the Accredited NCQF-Based Learning Programs. The NQF level can be confirmed in this database.

Note: In this case, the final degree would need to be awarded by a recognized awarding body and not Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Botswana.

ESWATINI (the snippets are from the ESHEC website)

The Eswatini Higher Council of Education (ESHEC), https://eshec.org.sz/, oversees the Eswatini (known as Swaziland pre-2018) Qualifications Framework (ESQF) and quality assurance for higher education institutions. It has a downloadable list of Registered Higher Education Institutions and Accredited Learning Programs (example below), https://eshec.org.sz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ESHEC-HEI-List-2026-July1_Final_.pdf. Prior lists may be accessed through Wayback; however, it is a fairly new process.

LESOTHO (the snippets are from the CHE website)

The Council of Higher Education (CHE) in Lesotho, https://www.che.ac.ls/, oversees the Lesotho Qualifications Framework (LQF) and quality assurance for higher education institutions. It has databases for both public and private institutions, which confirms program recognition by CHE and program recognition. The lists are in a format that can be downloaded, if preferred.

Lesotho  Qualifications Framework, 2019
Source: Ministry of Education and Training, Revised Lesotho Qualifications Framework

NAMIBIA (the snippets are from the NQA website)

The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), https://namqa.org/, oversees the Namibia Qualifications Framework (NQF) and quality assurance for higher education institutions. It has a database of accredited institutions, which includes the recognized programs each offers (the NQF level is included for non-degree programs on the 2026 list). Older lists are accessible through Wayback. The database is searchable by institution or program or in a downloadable list. The two public institutions in Namibia, Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia, have full accreditation and all their programs have recognition.

Namibia  Qualifications Framework, 2006

https://namqa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Namibian-accredited-Institutions-as-at-21-May-2026.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20160221231427/http://www.namqa.org/files/files/Namibian%20Accredited%20Institutions%20January%202016.pdf

SOUTH AFRICA (the snippets are from the SAQA and CHE websites)

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), https://saqa.org.za/, oversees the South African Qualifications Framework (SAQF) and recognized professional bodies and register qualifications on the NQF. Among other records, it has databases of registered qualifications, which incorporate institutions and unregistered qualifications, including the NQF level, if applicable. It also indicates the historical NQF level (the levels changed in 2009). Other helpful websites in South Africa are the Council of Higher Education (CHE), https://www.che.ac.za/, and the Directorate of Vocational and Education Training (DVET), https://www.dhet.gov.za/. CHE oversees South African education and policy. DVET oversees vocational education and has a list of TVET providers and programs.

Qualifications Framework, since 2009

And

South African National Qualifications Framework, pre-2009

https://web.archive.org/web/20060426011705/http://www.saqa.org.za

To search for a registered qualification on SAQA, from Registration of Qualifications and Part-Qualifications, click on Registered Qualifications and Unit Standards and search for a Qualification

Midrand Graduate Institute became  Pearson Institute of Higher Education, which is now EDOVOS

ZIMBABWE (the snippets are from the ZIMCHE websites)

The Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education (ZIMCHE), https://zimche.ac.zw/, oversees the registration and accreditation of institutions of higher education. It maintains a list of public and private higher education institutions, as well as a list of accredited programs by institution, https://zimche.ac.zw/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Accredited-Universities-and-their-Programmes-Document.pdf.

Zimbabwe National Qualifications Framework, 2018

Selected Official and Historical Links

• Botswana Qualifications Authority: https://www.bqa.org.bw/
• Eswatini Higher Education Council: https://eshec.org.sz/
• ESHEC HEI List 2026: https://eshec.org.sz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ESHEC-HEI-List-2026-July1_Final_.pdf
• Council on Higher Education, Lesotho: https://www.che.ac.ls/
• Namibia Qualifications Authority: https://namqa.org/
• NQA Accredited Institutions List 2026: https://namqa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Namibian-accredited-Institutions-as-at-21-May-2026.pdf
• Archived Namibia Accredited Institutions List 2016: https://web.archive.org/web/20160221231427/http://www.namqa.org/files/files/Namibian%20Accredited%20Institutions%20January%202016.pdf
• South African Qualifications Authority: https://saqa.org.za/
• Council on Higher Education, South Africa: https://www.che.ac.za/
• Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa: https://www.dhet.gov.za/
• Archived SAQA site: https://web.archive.org/web/20060426011705/http://www.saqa.org.za/
• Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education: https://zimche.ac.zw/
• ZIMCHE Accredited Universities and Programmes 2026: https://zimche.ac.zw/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Accredited-Universities-and-their-Programmes-Document.pdf

Evaluator Checklist

• Confirm whether the institution is registered, accredited, or recognized, using the terminology of the relevant authority.
• Confirm whether the program or qualification is separately registered or accredited.
• Confirm whether the institution is a teaching provider, awarding body, or both.
• For older credentials, consult archived lists or prior versions of official databases when available.
• Record the source, date of list or database, and any limitations in the evaluation notes.