Sam Isaacs: a visionary and inspirational leader

Sam Isaacs, a visionary and inspirational leader, has passed away, leaving behind an indelible mark on South Africa's National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Isaacs, the founding architect of the NQF, dedicated his life to education, training, and development as a means of social justice and personal empowerment.

As the Minister of the Anglican Church and later as the first Chairperson of the SAQA Board, Isaacs led the collaborative policy process that transformed South Africa's learning system into the SAQA, an enduring national institution. His unwavering belief in education and training as instruments of change guided his leadership, which was characterized by reflective, accountable, and bold decision-making.

Isaacs championed a national initiative to expand communication, coordination, and collaboration within the NQF context, traveling to various stakeholder entities to establish a nationwide career advice system. He emphasized the social uses of qualifications, acknowledging the diverse contexts in which knowledge, skills, and competences are utilized.

A lifelong lover of the arts, Isaacs ensured that SAQA's Mwalimu boardroom showcased his extensive personal art collection and sculptures symbolizing dancing figures. His leadership extended beyond the NQF, fostering partnerships with professional bodies and micro-credential inclusion, all rooted in fairness, transparency, and public accountability.

As an inspirational CEO, Isaacs led SAQA with strategic purpose and understanding, engaging diverse stakeholders through principled dialogue and active listening. His legacy lives on through SAQA's commitment to inclusive and responsive education and training systems, a tradition he initiated and nurtured.