Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching

The Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching is a professional teaching/lecturing programme that ‘caps’ an undergraduate degree or an approved diploma. Therefore, graduates who complete this programme will be deemed ‘professionally qualified’ by the Departments of Higher Education (Technical & Vocational Education & Training – TVET – Colleges) and Basic Education (Further Education and Training – FET – Schools) sector.

Part-time students: This group includes those who are employed as lecturers or teachers in the vocational sector and who are currently deemed ‘academically qualified and professionally unqualified’. It also includes those who are employed in business, commerce or industry and wish to become qualified TVET lecturers/vocational teachers. Students will be equipped with educational theory and methodology to supplement their experience and prior knowledge in the education context, so they may, upon graduation, be deemed ‘academically and professionally qualified’.

Full-time students: This group includes all those who have completed their subject disciplinary studies (e.g., Tourism, Engineering, Commerce, etc.) and wish to join the college or vocational school sector. The programme offers entry-level initial professional preparation for undergraduate degree or diploma holders who wish to be ‘professionally qualified’ as college lecturers and vocational classroom teachers in one chosen subject discipline in the vocational sector. 

The Adv Dip (TVT) offers not only a progressive theoretical foundation in vocational education. It also an extensive Work-integrated Learning (WIL) experience that encompasses both the college and school contexts (where teaching takes place in Teaching Practice (TP) engagements. It also offers a Workplace-based Learning (WBL) engagement, where students explore and are appraised of the world of work towards which they are/will be teaching.

The programme also offers opportunities for students to apply for recognition of prior learning, generally in the WIL components of the programme (TP & WBL). 

Successful candidates in the vocational school sector may be registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE). At present, negotiations are ongoing if SACE will also register college lecturers, but the legislation for this to happen is not yet in place.

THE ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR THE ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TEACHING ARE:

• an appropriate 360-credit, NQF Level 6, Diploma (including a college or NATED diploma) OR

• an appropriate 360-credit NQF Level 7, Bachelor’s degree.

An appropriate diploma or degree is one that includes disciplinary learning in cognate, (i.e., similar, or related) and appropriate academic fields to enable lecturing a technical or vocational subject or field as taught in institutions offering TVET programmes. (NOTE: this definition includes TVET Colleges as well as Special, Commercial and Technical High Schools).

The underpinning disciplinary knowledge, or a substantial part thereof, in the prior qualification must have been studied at the exit level of the entry qualification (NQF Level 6 / NQF Level 7). Where disciplinary subject knowledge is insufficient, additional learning units/modules/courses may be required before the student may register for this qualification.

Students will be assessed on Language Conversational Competence (LoCC) in an African language and basic Information and Communications Technology (ICT) competence.

• The STADIO verification process is administered by the Registrar’s Office and is supported by the different academic departments. The assessment is based on scrutinizing prior study (Senior Certificate subject or appropriate language or ICT module studied as part of a post-schooling qualification or short course).

• Alternately, diagnostic testing is undertaken online or at one of STADIO’s campuses.

• A student who does not have proven language conversational competency in an African language, must register for one of the Language Conversational modules on offer by the institution.

• A student will also be required to register for the module Computer Practice for Teachers CPT101 if she/he does not have proven computer competency.

• The credits related to these modules will not be included in the 120 credits for the programme

STADIO is committed to achieving inclusion and to overcome barriers to access and success in higher education. Applicants who do not meet the stated admission criteria, but who have relevant work experience and/or prior learning may apply for admission under the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). STADIO admits a maximum of 10% per cohort via RPL. he implementation of RPL is context-specific, in terms of discipline, programme and level. Further information may be obtained from your Student Recruitment Advisor.