Educating for the Future, Not for the Sale

- Why the HFPA does not offer Black Friday specials or discounted deals

At the HFPA we invest in knowledge and skills - and NOT in merchandise. It is therefore imperative for us that our students understand why education deserves more than any discounted value you might be offered for the sake of making a sale!

Education is the one thing that should never go on a clearance sale as a discounted mindset is exactly why in South Africa, we experience how undervaluing education systems can harm society. The priceless value of knowledge and skills combined with experience is why we believe that education should never be on sale.

At the HFPA we offer a learning experience without discounts to preserve the dignity of higher education as we strongly believe that knowledge is POWER and not a bargain bin commodity.

The dangers of discount strategies

Black Friday is coming up and we know that we are going to be inundated with requests from prospective students for a cheap shot at getting an accredited qualification for next to nothing. But, at the HFPA we believe that frequent discounts may compromise our reputation and credibility in industry.

As the oldest and most reputable sport and fitness education college in South Africa we do not need to devalue our qualifications or undermine industry standards as we are confident in our product offering.

Here are some potential drawbacks that we can think of for discounting education that you should consider before entering into an agreement based on a discount or deal:

• A discount encourages you to impulsively buy or excessively spend money immediately that can lead to financial difficulties in future.
• Sometimes advertising can be very misleading. Are you really getting a better deal or are you falling prey to price manipulation deceiving you into thinking you are getting a better deal?
• Discounts in education promote fast consumerism rather than providing a student with the proper academic support such as full time facilitators that can always be available to assist you with your programme.

Why do some education institutions provide discounts?

Some education institutions provide discounts because their focus is on making the sale and not educating for sustainable growth in a student’s career building journey.

So why do they do this? The answers are simple and if you understand marketing communication you will soon realise that:

1. Discounts are offered to attract more students who might be hesitant to properly invest in their futures.
2. Discounts create urgency, encouraging students to enrol quickly to make the sale.

Firstly, by looking at the above two strategies you can deduce for yourself that if you were hesitant in the first place to invest in a proper education, then how likely will you be to complete the qualification in the first place?

Secondly, because you urgently wanted to enrol at a special price, you might have chosen the wrong qualification to start off with. Are you confident then that the person or institution that sold you the discounted course in the first place will refund or transfer your payments to a different qualification - we think not!

What would the long term consequence be of an education that has been devalued?
The long-term consequences of an education that has been devalued can be far-reaching and multifaceted, affecting individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. Some potential consequences include:

• Reduced career opportunities and lower earning potential - industry partners are not fooled and will soon realise a student has done a quick online course, instead of a comprehensive qualification where there was an investment into, once again, knowledge, skills and gaining the necessary industry experience
• The above bullet in return will also lead to decreased critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as the student was not exposed to real-life situations through an internship or a workplace integrated learning environment to acquire the experience required in industry
• Not having the knowledge like your peers when entering industry without the necessary experience, will lead to lower self-esteem and confidence, as you will always doubt your abilities when compared to those that had a reputable learning experience

What does HFPA offer that is different then?

At the HFPA we will always strive to ensure that your learning experience is fulfilling, by providing you with the necessary support. What we also do is:

1. We sometimes bundle our course offerings - providing you with the option to choose two or three courses during the same learning experience at a set price for the duration of completing the qualifications.

2. We offer payment plans, but more importantly bursaries to deserving candidates as well as internship opportunities at our UXi Sport institutes.

3. We also provide value added services such as mentorships and networking opportunities, as well as alerts to job opportunities through our HFPA Graduates platform.

4. We focus on our Unique Selling Point - that we are undoubtedly and uncontestedly South Africa’s oldest fitness academy.

5. Lastly, we focus on building strong relationships with our students, facilitators and employees, because we believe in camaraderie and a sense of family.

Conclusion

In conclusion we are aligning our prices to remain within industry standards and to be transparent about our pricing models to build trust and to not mislead students on what is being compromised on when a discount is offered, as we strongly believe that a discounted qualification implies that expertise can be acquired cheaply, degrading sport and fitness education in South Africa, and devaluing the professionals in the sport and fitness industry.

HFPA's qualifications, being fully accredited and recognised by relevant authorities, maintain their value and integrity without relying on discounts and we refuse to compromise on our reputation and the credibility of our qualifications.

This distinction highlights HFPA's commitment to upholding industry standards and providing high-quality education. If you still have concerns or questions, please send us a mail and a career guidance consultant will be in contact shortly.