Employers in the tourism industry looking to train employees through a learnership programme can access funds through a discretionary grant window made available by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (Cathsseta).
The application process follows the placement of advertisements in local and national newspapers. Two advertisements are planned for each financial year - the first appeared in July this year and the second is likely in May 2017.
Following the publication of the advertisement, employers, public institutions, universities, and levy payers have 21 days to apply through an online profile created on the Cathsseta website.
Employers/trainers are also able to access additional learners interested in completing the programme through the Cathsseta learner portal.
According to Keitumetse Pebane, Senior Manager: Skills Development at Cathsseta, the advantage of this learnership is that prospective entrants to the industry are already in the workplace acquiring experience. When a vacancy comes up they are in a more advantageous position to apply for that post. She says up to 50% of learners who have completed a learnership are absorbed into permanent positions.
The Cathsseta learnership is a 12-month programme towards a registered tourism qualification and is made up of 70% practical work experience and 30% theory. Cathsseta provides a list of accredited training providers who provide the theory coursework. If employers have an accredited training division, they can perform a dual function of providing both the 70% practical experience and 30% theory. The qualification has a choice of career streams, including travel agent, tour operator, destination marketing, and tourism marketing.
Learnerships are considered for students with a South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level two to five.
