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
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.