The Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences Private Higher Education (Pty) Ltd (GIFS PHEI)

The Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (GIFS) is a private education provider for the financial services sector, based in Bryanston, Johannesburg, with an office in Umhlanga, Durban. It continues the legacy of the Masifunde Training Centre (MTC), which served the industry for 14 years. GIFS is Level 1 B-BBEE rated.

The portfolio covers more than 40 online NQF level 4, 5, 6 and 7 programmes, delivered online, blended or face to face. Further Education and Training Certificates (level 4) and National Certificates (level 5) are offered in short-term, long-term and retail insurance, wealth management, generic management and contact centre operations, alongside QCTO occupational certificates (Insurance level 5; Organisational Risk Practitioner), a Generic Management short course (Leading Through a Crisis), Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for representatives and key individuals, and Class of Business courses. Programmes are aligned to the National Qualifications Framework, approved by SAQA and meet the Fit and Proper criteria of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

Non-accredited courses include business management, coaching and mentoring, customer service, goal setting, the National Credit Act, regulatory exam training, time management, train the trainer and workplace relationships. The Financial Literacy course is free of charge. The #StressFreeCPD online platform has more than 13,500 users.

Academic matters are governed by an Educational Senate of professionals from the financial services sector, which reviews curricula, policies, materials and assessment. Distance-learner examinations are written at approved centres in Johannesburg (GIFS Sandton offices, Wits and the Midrand Training Centre), Durban (GIFS Umhlanga offices and UKZN) and Cape Town (Stellenbosch University).

GIFS has held INSETA accreditation since 2005 (130149) and also holds QCTO (QCTOSDP01200316-1973), Services SETA (12142) and BANKSETA (BANK-Gradu201201) accreditation. It lists growing activity in the US, UK and Canada.