Advanced Certificate

Advanced Certificate: Nature Conservation: Trans-frontier Conservation Management

NQF LEVEL

This programme has been approved by the Council on Higher Education but is currently pending registration with SAQA and the Department : Higher Education and Training. Until registration has been finalized, we will be offering this course as a short course based program.

NQF Level 6

DURATION OF THE
PROGRAMME

The Learning Programme is offered over a period of one academic year.

CREDIT VALUE

The learning programme consists of 120 credits

PURPOSE

The Southern African Wildlife College offers the Advanced Certificate in Nature Conservation: Trans Frontier Conservation Management as a training intervention aimed at the development of Nature Conservation managers within the SADC region.

The nature of conservation within the context of the Southern African Development Countries (SADC) is evolving to enable the integration and opening up of artificial boundaries previously associated with conservation areas. Through the working relationships established through trans-frontier conservation initiatives it is becoming more and more important to enable a consistent shared approach to matters concerning conservation.

The sustainable utilisation, conservation and protection of the natural environment and resources require an integrated and holistic management approach. Effective management within trans-frontier conservation areas promotes both natural environment issues and cooperation with stakeholders including local communities.

Natural resources conservation challenges and objectives in the SADC region is the joint responsibility of countries including:

South Africa
Mozambique
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Botswana
Swaziland
Namibia and
Lesotho

The effective management of the dynamics of trans-frontier conservation areas has particular importance from the perspective of retaining our shared African heritage. The effective utilisation of this resource as a major and increasingly important tourism attraction contributes to and promotes economic sustainability across SADC.

The qualification addresses competencies required for managerial positions within the conservation environment, associated which positions such as:

Reserve Managers
Section Rangers
Game Wardens
Senior Field Ranger
Senior Wildlife Officers
Ranger – operations
Ranger – extention

The Learning Programme is aimed at individuals with an established nature conservation background and experience; which have been identified and earmarked for personal development and career advancement into management positions, based on their technical expertise and leadership abilities in their country of origin.

EXIT LEVEL
OUTCOMES OF THE
PROGRAMME

Students qualifying against the learning programme will be able to:

Determine the application of conservation practices in relation to trans-frontier conservation objectives
Develop a management plan to support the effective operation of a Nature Conservation unit or area
Manage a conservation implementation plan according to organisational requirements
Report on the effectiveness of implementation

TARGET GROUP

The Learning Programme is aimed and individuals already involved in operational positions within the nature conservation environment; which have been identified and earmarked for personal development and career advancement into management positions in Nature Conservation organisations within the SADC region.

Individuals earmarked for personal growth and job advancement opportunities relevant to this qualification, already have acquired a minimum of five years technical expertise in the broad focus areas associated with Nature Conservation principles and activities and have been exposed to entry-level supervisory and leadership positions within a conservation context.

It is envisaged that individuals interested in the qualification will mainly fit into the following demographic profile:

Open age group with the average minimum age of the target group being between 25 and 30 years of age
Male or female
Employed in a nature conservation environment for at least five years
Above average level of technical know –how of conservation issues
Ability to work with a diverse range of individuals
Ability to work outdoors sometimes in less than optimal weather conditions
Good ability to build rapport
Good communication skills
Good leadership skills

ENTRY LEVEL
REQUIREMENTS

It is assumed that students accessing this qualification are competent in:

Communication at NQF Level 5
Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4
Recognised conservation qualifications on NQF level 5 or equivalent

PROGRAMME
CURRICULUM

The Learning Programme is made up of the following modular components:

LEARNING COMPONENT	MODULE/COURSE	CREDITS
RESEARCH	Conservation research	10 Cr
GENERIC MANAGEMENT	Financial Management	10 Cr
	Human Resources Management	10 Cr
ECO TOURISM	Eco Tourism	10 Cr
CONSERVATION PLANNING	Environmental Development Planning	10 Cr
	Land-use planning	5 Cr
	Geographical information systems in conservation	5 Cr
TRANS-FRONTIER CONSERVATION	Trans-Frontier Conservation	10 Cr
	Natural Resources Protection	10 Cr
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT	Community based Natural Resources Management	10 Cr
	Biodiversity Management	10 Cr
	Catchment Management	10 Cr
RESOURCE ECONOMICS	Resource economics	10 Cr
	TOTAL CREDITS:	120

COURSE SCHEDULE
The Higher & Advanced Certificate will both be presented as Block based programmes. These blocks comprise two training blocks at the SAWC campus and a workplace based block during the middle of the year as follows:

Block 1: February to April	Training block at SAWC
Block 2: May to August	Workplace component (learners return to their workplaces)
Block 3: late August to early december	Training block at SAWC

The course will commence with a registration contact visit in selected countries across SADC at the start of the academic year. The registration visit will be conducted by a member of the academic staff of the SAWC.

The first block will take place in the student’s workplace. During registration, each student will be provided with learning material and workplace tasks & assignments to be completed before the commencement of the SAWC training block.

A designated mentor will be available in selected countries to provide assistance & guidance to learners in completing the workplace tasks. Lecturers at the SAWC will also be available for contact and enquiries regarding the workplace block requirements.

Semester exams will take place on completion of each SAWC training block.
A detailed course calendar will be provided to students on acceptance into the programme.

HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are required to complete the course application form indicating the programme they intend applying for. This form should be submitted to the College, addressed to the Certificate Course Training Manager together with all the accompanying documentation stipulated on the application form.

PLEASE NOTE: All students are required to obtain a letter of endorsement from the HUMAN RESOURCE or TRAINING MANAGER of their respective organizations before their application will be considered by the College.

COURSE FEES
The full course fee for the Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate is R60 000.

This fee is inclusive of the following course costs:

Tuition fees
Meals & Accommodation while at the SAWC campus
Learning material
Field excursions during contact blocks at the SAWC campus

Course fees are payable to the SAWC by the end of the first semester of the academic year.

BURSARY SUPPORT
The Southern African Wildlife College may have a limited number of partial bursaries that students may apply for. Full bursaries are not offered by the College.

In order for a student to apply for partial bursary support, they will be required to complete the bursary application section in the course application form. In this section, the student will need to state the funds that they have
currently available that they are able to contribute towards the course fees. (Either through their employer or in their personal capacity). The bursary application would then be for the balance of the tuition fee amount.

Students requiring bursary support are also encouraged to apply independently to funding organizations in their home country as the number of bursaries available through the College is limited.