Skills and Innovation Centre – Occupational Programmes
Skills and Innovation Centre: is situated in the industrial area of Welkom (Voorspoed). This Campus is dedicated to offering accredited occupational and skills programmes. As a College, this Campus is deemed as very fundamental for the reason that it is a mechanism to address skills shortages in the South African context.
As a result, Vocational and Occupational certification via Learnerships and Apprenticeship programmes is at the core of the new skills creation system since 1943. This Campus has a sporadic intake of about 700 students.
What is an apprenticeship?
- Apprenticeships combine theory, practical work and workplace practice in a chosen trade field and in the case of a listed trade ends in a trade test and an artisan certificate of competence.
- In South Africa, apprenticeships are monitored by the QCTO. The National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) oversees the quality assurance of apprenticeships on behalf of the QCTO.
- NAMB is responsible for moderating trade tests, developing and managing a national database of registered artisan trade assessors and moderators, recording artisan achievements and recommending the certification of artisans to the QCTO.
Why are apprenticeships important?
- Apprenticeships are aimed at developing trade-specific skills. In South Africa there are several industries that desperately need skilled artisans. By establishing a formal skills development structure, such shortage of skills can be addressed by training people in the necessary fields.
- If you are interested in becoming an artisan, speak to qualified artisans and, where possible, visit their workplaces to see if this is the type of work you would like to do. Also contact your local TVET college`s advisory centre for guidance.
How does apprenticeship work?
- A formal contract is signed between the apprentice and the pre-approved employer for the duration of the apprenticeship.
- The apprentice is viewed as an employee of the company and works for the company for the agreed time in order to gain the skills and experience necessary to work in the industry. This is done in conjunction with an education and training component often facilitated by a TVET College.
- An apprentice`s work-based experience is restricted to a single employer which is the contracted employer of the apprentice.
What is the benefit for the apprentice?
- The apprenticeship programme consolidates the apprentice`s ability in the trade through practical skills and experience; it also encourages further education and training opportunities.
What is the benefit to the employer?
- The employer develops and provides training in the skills required for the sustainability of his/her business. Participating in apprenticeship programmes can also increase productivity, efficiency and ultimately profitability of a business enterprise.
Who is eligible?
- Anybody wishing to enter a listed trade is eligible for an apprenticeship. Once you sign the apprenticeship contract, you become employed as an apprentice.
How long does an apprenticeship typically take?
- It usually takes three to four years to achieve artisan status, after which employment is generally guaranteed should the parties agree to a continued employment relationship.
What qualification will I leave with?
- The certificate issued is trade-specific and is known as an Artisan Certificate of Competence. You will complete a Nated or “N” courses recognised on the NQF. Also, to qualify as an artisan in a listed trade, you will need to pass a trade test.
Who provides the education and training component of the qualification?
- Education and training is provided by Accredited public TVET Colleges, and in the case of a listed trade, must culminate in a trade test by an accredited trade test centre (public or private).
Duration:Ā
- 3 Years (36 months)
Qualification:Ā
- 3 Years (36 months)
What is a Learnership?
- A learnership is a work based learning programme that leads to an NQF registered qualification. Learnerships are directly related to an occupation or field of work, for example, electrical engineering, hairdressing or project management.
- Learnerships are managed by Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). They were introduced by government to help skill learners and to prepare them for the workplace.
- Learnership programmes can help you to gain the necessary skills and workplace experience that will open up better employment or self employment opportunities.
- Learnerships are based on legally binding agreement between an employer, a learner and a Training Provider. This agreement is intended to spell out the tasks and duties of the employer, the learner and the Training Provider. It is designed to ensure the quality of the training and to protect the interests of each party.
- A learnership requires that a learner enter into a fixed term employment contract with the company whilst studying towards a qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is in line with the learnership (the cost of the qualification falls to the Company). Once the qualification is completed, the learnership will also end.
Why are learnerships important?
- Learnerships promote access to education and training, as they allow you to work and get started on your career while also studying for an educational qualification.
- SETAs oversee learnerships and ensure that they offer qualifications related to a specific occupation or sector of the economy. All 21 SETAs have developed NQF-aligned programmes that will help you gain recognised qualifications while getting on-the-job experience.
- SETAs manage the registration of learnerships in order to meet the skills development needs across the sectors.
How do learnerships work?
- Learnerships require you to complete a theoretical course as well as practical training, which is done at a workplace, in order to graduate. The workplace component of the qualification involves hands-on, practical learning under the guidance of a mentor, while the theoretical component is provided by an education and training provider. Together they form an integrated and comprehensive learning programme.
Top Tip:Ā
- The number of credits needed to graduate varies from learnership to learnership, so make sur e that you understand the minimum requirements if you want to complete a learnership. Find out from the relevant SETA.
Who is eligible for a learnership?
- Learnerships are available for young people who have completed school, college or learning at other training institutions. You must be older than 16 and younger than 35 to be eligible for a learnership.
- Unemployed South Africans can only participate in a learnership if there is an employer prepared to provide the required work experience.
How to participate in a learnership?
- By now you have already put some thought into your career path, and as a result you will be able to identify a learnership that will support your career goals.
- Your career path should be in fluenced by your interests, skills and strengths. The responsibility rests with you to investigate and research the different learnership options. You should find out as much as you can, including information on the criteria and requirements for entering a learnership.
What are the entry requirements?
- Different learnerships have different entry requirements. We recommend that you contact the provider of the learnership for full details on the specific requirements for the learnership of your choice.
- For many learnerships, the minimum entry requirement is a National Senior Certificate or National Certificate: Vocational, but there may be more specific subject requirements or even skills requirements such as computer literacy.
What are the benefits for lea rners?
- You may have better employment opportunities after completing a learnership;
- You have a fixed-term employment contract for the duration of the learnership;
- Learnerships improve on the job performance so you are able to do things relevant to the job;
- You obtain a nationally-recognised qualification that is relevant to the sector; and
- You earn a learner allowance for the duration of the learnership.
How much does a learnership cost?
- Learnerships are generally funded by a relevant SETA. Since the cost of learnerships varies across SETAs and types/levels of qualifications, you should contact the relevant SETA for more information.
Will the learner be paid?
- There is a specified minimum learner allowance that must be paid to unemployed learners in a learnership. This is not a salary but covers expenses like travel and meals. Again, you should contact the relevant SETA for more information.
- Note: The amount paid as a learner allowance depends on the SETA, type of learnership and the level of qualification. The allowances and conditions are agreed to with each learner before the commencement of the learnership.
How long does it ta ke to complete a learnership?
- Learnerships will last as long as it takes to complete the qualification. This means that if the duration of the qualification is two years, then the learnership will last for that period of time.
What does a learner receive on completion?
- During the learnership, learners will be required to complete assignments, tasks and practical tests and projects. They will be formally assessed in the classroom and workplace.
- If all these assignments are completed successfully, they will be awarded an NQF-registered qualification, that is recognised nationally. They will receive a certificate stating the qualification and the area of skills development.
What is required to enter into a learnership?
- If you are accepted you will need to sign two legal documents:
- Learnership Agreement: this is an agreement signed by you, the organisation employing you, and the education and provider offering the theoretical training component of the learnership. This agreement clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of all three parties.
- Employment contract: this is a contract you will sign with the employ er, which is only valid for the time period of the learnership.
Will I get a job after completing the learnership?
- Employment is not guaranteed, but once you have successfully completed your learnership, you will be in a much better position to market yourself as you will now have both work experience and theoretical training. You may also be in a better position to start your own business and generate an income that way.
Can a learnership be terminated?
- Yes, a learnership can be terminated under certain circumstances:
- An employer can terminate the contract of a learnership if:
- The duration specified in the learnership agreement has expired;
- The employer and learner have agreed in writing to terminate the learnership agreement, or if there is no such agreement, the SETA that registered the agreement approves the termination; or
- The learner is fairly dismissed for a reason related to the learnerās conduct or capacity as an employee.
- For more information, contact the SETA that manages the learnerships in the field in which you are interested.
Duration:Ā
- 1 Years (12 months)
Qualification:
- 1-2 Year(s) (12-24 months)
What is a Skills Programme?
- This is an occupation-based learning programme aimed at building skills that have economic value, and which incorporates at least one unit standard. It is registered by a SETA and delivered by an accredited training provider (Skills Development Provider) and it leads to a qualification registered on the NQF. Implementation duration for a skills programme depends on the weight/credit value of the programme.
Non-Formal Programmes:
- Short Non-Formal learning programmes are not registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF); hence they do not have NQF levels. They are designedĀ to improve or refresh knowledge and skills in a particular field and for personal, social or professional development.
Duration:Ā
- Specific to Programme
Qualification:Ā
- Specific to Programme
Description / Definition
Adult (basic) education and training programmes.
Duration
Specific to programme *
Qualification
Specific to programme *
Admission Requirements
Specific to programme *
Description/ Definition
National Qualifications Framework (NQF) registered qualifications offered to full time private students under the auspices of SETAs and quality assured by SETA ETQAs.
Duration
Specific to programme *
Qualification
Full qualification on various NQF Levels
Ā Admission Requirements
Specific to programme *
Address:
2 Eleventh Street
Voorspoed
WELKOM
9460
Tel: 057Ā 439 0931
