GTTP is a multi-country educational program to introduce high school learners to career opportunities in Travel & Tourism

Study Opportunities

If you would like to study full time toward a career in this field, there are a number of options open to you. The Universities of Technology had a long history in offering practical management qualifications in both Hospitality Management and Tourism Managements. Some academic universities and private higher education institutions also offer these courses.

If you are thinking about studying at a private institution, make sure that they are registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and are accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee – HEQC.

Consider which of the following institutions would suit you best:

Institution Education Example Entry level position
University Higher education, largely academic, with little practical experience BA in Tourism Managerial Assistant
University of Technology Academic and practical tuition that includes compulsory experiential education in the industry National diploma in Tourism Management National diploma in Hospitality Management Managerial Assistant
TVET college Vocation-specific tuition with a great deal of practical tuition Certificate in cookery Operator
Private provider Both HET and FET. Must be accredited with the national authorities, the Higher Education and Quality Committee, or Umalusi Certificates and diplomas (must be registered with the South African Qualifications Authority) Depends on the type and level of the course offered

The following table offers links to some of the well known institutions that offer qualifications in the Tourism and Hospitality field

Universities of Technology Academic Universities Private Higher Education
Vaal University of Technology University of Pretoria Centurion Academy
Tshwane University of Technology University of the North West (Potch) Damelin
Durban University of Technology University of Johannesburg Durban Computer College
Central University of Technology Durbanville College
Cape Peninsula University of Technology Ed-U City Campus
Nelson Mandela University of Technology ICESA City Campus
Walter Sisulu University of Technology Independent Institute of Education
Management College of Southern Africa
Midrand Graduate Institute
Oval International Computer Education

Accreditation Agencies

Choose your institution carefully. Many claim to be registered or accredited with THETA or other ETQA (education and training quality assurance body), but can they prove it?

This can be very confusing when trying to figure out who is responsible for accrediting the trainers and providers of education. The following table may help you to understand this better:

NQF Level Agency Responsibility
5 – 8 HEQC: Higher Education Quality Committee Ensures that the level and quality of provision is suitable for Higher Education
1- 4 UMALUSI Ensures that the level and quality of provision is suitable for Further and General Education
All levels CATHSSETA: Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority With HEQC and UMALUSI, CATHSSETA quality assures all courses falling into their scope: Tourism, Hospitality, Conservation, Sport, gambling and Lotteries

If the institution is indeed accredited, it will have undergone an accreditation process during which its facilities, learning materials, courses and lecturers will have been evaluated on their ability to deliver appropriate training for the courses offered.

Even once you have established the institution’s accreditation status, consider the following points to ensure that the full-time course you have selected provides the type and quality of training you want:

Does the course give graduates a certificate from a recognised authority, in this case THETA, and is the qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)? If it does and is, you can rest assured that the qualification is legitimate and recognised, and will provide employable skills.

  • Does the training provider help you to find a job when you have finished the course?
  • How many past students have found jobs – chat to them about the course;
  • Who delivers the practical and theoretical components of the course and are they suitably qualified and experienced?
  • Do the lecturers have industry experience and knowledge as well as a teaching background?
  • ask managers of establishments what courses they recommend or approve, or what they look for when hiring someone;
  • What is the duration of the course? Comprehensive training cannot take place over a few weeks. An absolute minimum to acquire professional skills is at least a year.
  • Check the cost and find out exactly what it covers.