North West School of Design (NWSD), founded by awarding winning and globally recognized Fashion Entrepreneur Marlene Oosthuizen, has recently celebrated 22 years of training International and South Africa’s top designers and fashion professionals. From 2013 the institution provided the South African fashion industry aspirants the opportunity to gain certification from the internationally recognised City and Guilds in fashion design or fashion buying and communications. As per the DHET, it is unfortunate that City and Guilds is no longer recognized in South Africa as of 2018 – this has provided an opportunity for NWSD to reinvent the brand and become aligned to the HEQSF at an appropriate NQF level. Through research and commitment, NWSD has designed a NQF Level 6: DIPLOMA IN FASHION DESIGN which has been submitted for accreditation.