Higher Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gateway Qualifications (UK), marking a major step in getting accreditation of the Higher Health life and soft skills qualification which will help in the holistic development of many young people.

This partnership strengthens Higher Health’s flagship Civic and Soft Skills programme, already accredited in South Africa by the QCTO at NQF Level 5, while also advancing its UK-based version, the Skills for Living programme, now formally accredited by Gateway Qualifications.

As a proud global partner of UNESCO, Higher Health continues to support a shared vision of equipping young people with essential soft skills such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, responsible citizenship, and employability – especially important in a world where up to 85% of job success is linked to soft skills.

Issues of critical thinking, emotional intelligence, time management, leadership, entrepreneurship, self and social entrepreneurship are some of the many critical soft skills that helps young people with academic performance, job employability, and also towards prevention towards social and health challenges affected them in their lives.

The collaboration brings together Gateway Qualifications’ expertise in education with Higher Health’s proven track record in wellbeing-focused, preventive learning programmes, delivered through a blended e-learning model.

Fabienne Bailey, CEO of Gateway Qualifications, said “We are delighted to be working with Higher Health. This MOU reflects our shared ambition to help young people build the life and soft skills and confidence they need to succeed in life and work.”

Professor Ramneek Ahluwalia, CEO of Higher Health, emphasised that “Partnerships of this calibre ensure that our programmes remain quality-assured, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of young people.”