PURQ's centralised academic information platform

PURQ is the newly launched academic information platform established by PURCO SA on behalf of South African public universities to serve their interests. The state of the art platform at www.purq.co.za provides a centralised source of academic qualification data used by more than 1000 authenticated South African companies, and 44000 registered users and students.  Already representing 70% of all student data, PURQ is targeting support from all 26 universities.

Already 20 institutions have entrusted PURQ with their student data, representing some 70% of the country’s qualification records and 23.2 million subject records.

PURQ Chair Chris Liebenberg (UFS Senior Director: Finance) explained that PURQ’s immediate objective is to get buy-in from all 26 universities.“PURQ offers clear and obvious benefits. It provides our institutions with an acccessible, no-cost tool to reduce costs and improve revenues, while advancing our students’ interests,” he said.

The organisation is meeting with Registrars and higher education forums to encourage all institutions to fully support the collaborative initiative.

Operated by PURCO SA

PURQ is operated on behalf of the higher education sector by PURCO SA. Established over 40 years ago, PURCO SA has an established track record helping the higher education sector collaborate more effectively: last year its 52 member institutions saved more than R178 million through collaborative supplier contracts, and shared a surplus of R23 million.

Three core services

The PURQ platform acts as a centralised bulk data resource for three core service offerings: authenticated verification of graduate qualifications, secure confirmation of student enrolments, and electronic interchange of academic transcripts. Secure electronic exchange for academic transcripts and enrolment verifications are unique offerings.

The innovative technology facilitates real time online access to academic data, saving students, university staff and PURQ clients time and expense.

Benefits to companies

More than 1000 organisations, including recruitment companies, banks, lenders and background screening services rely on PURQ’s national database for  Qualification and Enrolment Verifications.

Authenticated access to the centralised, legally compliant national platform makes it more efficient to securely evaluate employment applications, compile academic qualification reports and process financial risk profiles. The advanced technology that underpins PURQ also provides  a comprehensive audit trail and detailed management reports.

Benefits to students

Importantly, PURQ’s benefits do not only accrue to universities and corporates. Students, who have to give consent for the use of their data, also derive clear value. While PURQ provides them with user-friendly online access to their study history, its more important effect is to empower graduates seeking employment, and assist them to secure advantageous financial terms on loans and purchases.

For example, a secure data integration between PURQ and one financial institution enables graduates to qualify for competitive interest rates via an automated online platform.

Benefits to universities

In an era of constrained finances, PURQ makes a welcome contribution to university budgets. Not only does it help reduce expenses, create capacity and streamline student walk-in centres., but it also generates ongoing revenue. Participating institutions, with zero outlay, earn income from each verification, enrolment enquiry and transcript download.

PURQ CEO Selvan Govender explained that “In addition to providing real benefits to our students, PURQ offers institutions a free tool to unlock value without requiring any capital expenditure, systems development or costly licensing agreements.”   

But the collaboration also delivers important non-financial benefits.

A multi-tiered Authentication and Consent Management System ensures all users are verified before they can access the system, and  requires that consent is obtained  from each student whose data is accessed. By confining access to their records via the PURQ platform, institutions retain auditable control over the integrity and protection of their student data, reduce expenses, generate revenue, and are able to add a valuable benefit to their student body and alumni programmes.

Contact Zubair Hattia to sign up or expand your institution’s participation in the PURQ platform. zhattia@purq.co.za or 011 545 0940.