Established in 1978, the South African Institute of Security (SAIS) aims to promote individual professional competence in the security industry and to support the maintenance and enhancement of this competence by security professionals.
This includes the professional recognition of security practitioners through skills development – Sector Safety and Security Training and Education Authority and diplomas/degrees through the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Terry Scallan is currently the chairman of SAIS, with Errol Peace the vice chairman.
Membership is open to all security practitioners who qualify in terms of the requirements of the institute. Grades of membership are Fellow, Member, Graduate, Junior Graduate and Student. Non-security practitioners may apply for Associate Membership.
Benefits of membership
* Independent and objective evaluation of your status as a security professional according to the membership grades of the institute.
* A variety of networking opportunities within the Private Security Industry through: regular lunch seminars with high profile speakers, annual dinner, annual golf day, annual bowls day and topical workshops.
* Regular communication with members regarding training, education and development, and other issues that affect the security industry.
* Being a member of a professional body within the security industry.
* Access to the latest information regarding security training, education and development in South Africa and internationally.
Recognition
The latest news from Terry Scallan is that SAIS is to apply to be recognised as a professional body.
On 21 April 2010 the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) hosted representatives from the professional body community for a consultative meeting at Kopanong Conference Estate. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the sector, and allow opportunity for input, about the proposed process that will be followed to develop policy and criteria for the recognition of professional bodies (for the purposes of the NQF Act) and registration of professional designations on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
The meeting was attended by more than 250 people, representing more than 90 professional bodies, the Departments of Higher Education and Training, Science and Technology and Human Settlements, as well as HESA, QCTO, Umalusi, CHE, BUSA, Palama and 14 SETAs. The meeting included constructive debate on SAQA’s proposal based on presentations made by SAQA, a statutory professional body (ECSA) and a non-statutory professional body (SAICA).
Following this meeting, SAQA invites both statutory and non-statutory professional bodies to nominate representatives to serve on a Reference Group. The Reference Group will provide expertise and advice to SAQA on the draft policy and criteria for the recognition of professional bodies and the registration of professional designations.
Contact details
Website: www.instituteofsecurity.co.za
E-Mail: SAIS@tiscali.co.za
Telephone: +27 (0)11 454 5950,
Facsimile: +27 (0)11 454 6048,
Administration manager: Rosemary Cowan Hon MIS (SA).
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