Thank you for taking time to familiarise yourself with the Diploma Course (Natural Resource Management) programme. This document will provide you with useful information about the content and structure of this qualification.

Purpose Statement
A learner who has achieved this qualification will be able to integrate management knowledge and skills with the operational specifics of a conserved area.

A learner will also be in a position to guide and mentor other learners in the attainment of management objectives in the context of the different aspects of managing a conserved area.

This course has been developed to assist professionalism across the Southern African conservation industry and covers all aspects of: natural resource area planning, landscape management, ensuring the integrity of the protected resource, integrated catchment management, people management, tourism/visitor management, resource economics, and project management.

Course Outcomes
By the end of this course a qualified learner will be able to:

• Manage a natural resource or protected area according to an integrated management approach
  
• Effectively supervise the broad range of management activities being performed in a natural resource or protected area
  
• Effectively supervise and manage the staff carrying out the management activities
  
• Practically assist with any or all of the management functions carried out in a natural resource or protected area
  
• Manage and communicate effectively with communities and tourists interacting with / in the natural resource or protected area

The courses at SAWC are characterized by a hands-on, practical, and highly participatory approach, which is complemented by group discussions and lecture sessions. Training is competence and outcome-based, allowing students to apply knowledge directly to their workplace, thereby not only benefiting themselves but also their individual organizations and their local communities.

Who can apply?
The Certificate Course in Natural Resource Management is aimed at individuals who are involved in the field of Natural Resource Management and who have a minimum of 5 years experience.
The course design enables intermediate natural resource or protected area managers to acquire the necessary skills needed to effectively assume middle management positions within their organisations. In addition, practising natural resource and protected area managers have the opportunity during the course to acquire much needed practical field management, as well as generic management skills

Accreditation
The Southern African Wildlife College is an accredited training provider with THETA (Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority).

Trainers
The Southern African Wildlife College does not have a staff of permanent trainers but contracts trainers who are practicing experts in their field to conduct specific modules. This allows for the students to be provided with up to date information and developments in the industry during each module.

Course Duration
The Diploma Course will commence on 22nd January 2007 and will be completed at the end of October 2007 and will include a three week mid year break in July.

DIPLOMA COURSE PROGRAMME

Below is a list of the modules that make up the Diploma Course in Natural Resource Management and an outline of the topics comprising the module.

Communication Skills

• Principles of good communication
  
• Writing skills
  
• Basic office communication (business letters, memo’s)
  
• Verbal presentation techniques
  

Computer Skills

• General introduction to operation of a computer
  
• Managing files
  
• Creating documents
  
• Basic computer programmes
  

First Aid Level 1

• SA Red Cross First Aid Certificate
  

Research Skills

• Evaluation of written research material
  
• Understanding of natural and social sciences
  
• Research questions and hypotheses
  
• Discerning dependent from independent variables, and qualitative from quantitative variables
  
• Analyse of simple data using basic statistics
  
• Presentation of analysed data in tables and graphs
  

Human Resource Management

• Basic principles of management and human resource management
  
• The effect of external factors on management practices
  
• Effective leadership skills
  
• Application of motivation dynamics and the impact on productivity in the workplace
  
• Basic interviewing skills in recruitment, selection and placement
  
• Performance appraisals
  
• Grievance and disciplinary procedures
  
• Communication skills
  
• Basic skills of training needs assessment
  
• Job descriptions in the management of the human resource at the workplace

Protected Area Management

• Mapping of natural resources (especially vegetation) in a protected area with the help of aerial photograph
  
• Basic ecological planning of a protected area using goal and objectives
  
• Interactions between the ecosystem components
  
• Monitoring animal populations (determine sex, ages, condition and distribution using certain techniques)
  
• Vegetation monitoring
  
• General reserve planning (roads, veld burning etc)
  

Freshwater Ecology

• Management of catchment areas
  
• Aquatic ecosystems
  
• Basic ecology of freshwater systems
  
• Effects on catchment habitat (land use practices, alien biota etc)
  

Environmental Development Plans

• Environmental Impact Assessments
  
• Integrated Environmental Management
  
• Environmentally Responsible Development
  
• Legal Issues in Protected Area Development
  

Landscape Management

• Biotic and abiotic processes at landscape scale
  
• Interpretation of patterns and processes shaping landscapes and the effect on species interactions, movement and distribution.
  

Introduction to Applied Resource Economics

• Basic principles of resource economics
  
• The concept of the “Tragedy of the Commons”
  
• Evaluation of sustainable natural resources
  
• Macro-economic policy and its impact on conservation
  
• Skills in application and use of cost/benefit analysis
  

Project Management

• The project cycle
  
• Development of project concepts,
  
• Project design, planning and implementation
  
• Monitoring and evaluation of projects
  

Fundraising techniques

• Community Development and Conservation
  
• Basic principles of Community Development and Conservation
  
• Integrated approach to community relations
  
• Planning, implementing and managing an integrated community relations strategy
  
• Land tenure
  
• Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) skills
  
• Effective facilitation and communication with local communities
  
• Conflict resolution techniques
  
• Group interaction skills

Environmental Education

• Methods employed to draw up programmes for environmental education
  
• Developing adult education (Community education) programs
  
• Enhancing student and staff training through environmental education
  
• Developing school groups, youth clubs, environmental competitions
  
• Instruction in the management requirements of interpretative facilities
  

Tourism Management

• Tourism products and services associated with protected areas
  
• Community based tourism
  
• Marketing
  
• Development of tourism development plans.
  

Natural Resource Protection – Strategic Operations

• Planning and implementation of security operations in natural resource areas
  
• Drawing up strategic protection plans for natural resource areas
  
• Development of field leadership to support and lead Field Rangers
  
• Development of supervision in training and deployment of Field Rangers
  

Additional English literacy and computer tutoring is provided to learners during this programme.

Course Fees
The tuition fees for this course include accommodation, all meals, field practicals, learning materials and hand outs & scheduled excursions.

• Tuition Fee: R50 000
  
• Application: Fee R300
  

The following are approximate guidelines of the personal training costs to be borne by the individual:

• Stationary: R300
  
• Photocopying: R200
  
• Printing: R200

PLEASE NOTE: When budgeting for Personal Costs students are advised to include cost for study permits and visas (Please contact your Home Affairs Department or the South African Embassy/Foreign Affairs Department in your country for further details)

Click here for the application form for the Diploma Course.

For further information on this programme, please contact:
The Southern African Wildlife College
Private Bag X3015
Hoedspruit
Northern Province
1380
South Africa

Tel.: (015) 793 7300
Fax.: (015) 793 7314
Intl.: +27 (15) 793 7300
e-Mail: info@sawc.org.za