The Institutes of Southern Africa Procurement Academy (ISAPA) is a new initiative that has been created to offer relevant support and training 24/7 as delivered via your desktop.  Based on international standards that are recognised by employers throughout the world, this initiative is brought to you by the Institute of Purchasing and Supply of South Africa (IPSA) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), the global international professional body.

ISAPA will provide you with a unique opportunity to study towards professionally and globally recognised qualifications with an international reputation for enhancing procurement capacity and capability, as well as keeping you abreast of the latest professional thinking and ‘best-practice’.


E-Learning
The integrated learning, as offered with the E-Learning facility, allows you to advance your career without compromising your day-to-day projects.

In terms of time investment, Level 2 requires a minimum of 30 hours of integrated learning for the entire qualification, rising in Level 3 to 60 hours of integrated learning per unit.

From Levels 4-6 each CIPS Certification level consists of 5 subject units, with each unit being approximately 130 hours of integrated learning.  This 130 hours features the CIPS-e™ on-line courses and some distance study learning that includes a course book and online tutor, with an examination at the end to assess your level of learning.


So How Does It Work?
Key concepts are introduced to the learner, whilst the on-line courses take the learner deeper into the subject and allow them to check their understanding of the material while a case study provides a real world example of how the learning all fits together in a very practical sense.

The learner furthermore gets references to course books and recommended further reading, to assist them in studying in a satisfying integrated way and to help them prepare effectively for the exams.

• The CIPS Certification Programmes also includes CIPS & IPSA dual membership with access to the CIPS Knowledge Bytes as well as a procurement and supply chain management library.  Membership of the local professional body, IPSA, involves the collection and dissemination of information of interest and benefit to its members, and the fostering and promotion of acquaintances, the interchange of ideas and cooperation amongst its members

To underline the E-Learning process, the Certification Programmes also offer online tutoring which will enable learners to ask questions, seek clarification and feel part of a learning community.


Localised & New Mandatory Units Include:

• Introductory Certificate for the legislative environment in South Africa - customised by the University of Fort Hare at Level 2;
• The Machinery of Government and Procurement - customised for South Africa by the University of Fort Hare at Level 5; and
• Sustainable Local Supplier Development – to be developed by a selected South African University at Level 6.

Link to PDP
Another unique feature of the E-Learning system is the direct link of the qualification levels to the personal and professional development plans of the individual employees.  Participants will therefore enter at a level identified for their role and responsibilities.  This is a significant additional support, as normally learners are not clear what units are relevant for their job.

A CIPS certificate is issued on the successful completion of each subject unit and level, to celebrate the learner’s increased knowledge and skills levels.  This offering requires the learner to do a minimum of one exam per year.  In South Africa examination centres will be available in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.