SustainEd
Respect, care and commitment – training with pride and purpose
Context
WESSA SustainEd provides accredited training for the education sector within the context of the environment. WESSA has accreditation status with the Education, Training and Development Practices – Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA). WESSA can therefore offer a National Certificate at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
Project Objectives
WESSA SustainEd offers nationwide (through the WESSA regions) training courses with a direct impact towards more effective educational and sustainable environmental practices through meaningful learning programmes.
There are many industries, organisations and individuals working towards sustainable development in South Africa, including local government. Often, the people who find themselves grappling with environmental issues and having to educate others in their work-place with knowledge and skills towards more sustainable practice do not have an educational or even an environmental background. WESSA SustainEd offers the best possible training in response to this educational and environmental human capacity shortfall.
Project Approach and Activities
The emphasis of WESSA SustainEd is on providing environmental related training courses which request and require considerable commitment and participation by participants. High intensity contact sessions combined with work-based learning is the key approach to all the courses offered. Participants are expected to focus their assignments on the work they are already doing.
Part of the full National Certificate qualification can be offered as shorter accredited courses. WESSA SustainEd had designed a suite of short courses drawn from the complete accredited qualification. Participants are thus able to select a particular short course, and yet still keep the value of the accreditation. The credits gained in this way can be built on pervious credits to attain the full qualification over a number of discreet courses.
There is, however, more to the courses offered by WESSA SustainEd than the accreditation and good educational grounding. The approach and nature WESSA SustainEd is embracing and non-confrontational. Participants experience this nature as a warm, professional dignified humanness. Courses at WESSA SustainEd will, of course, meet the rigorous South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) expectations, but there will always be something extra. Through sensitive dignified interactions, participants develop confidence in understanding and knowledge, and carry with pride, hearts that are open to respond to South Africa’s needs with understanding, direction and purpose.
It is complementary to note that the ETDP SETA, the body which governs the education sector, has approached WESSA SustainEd to run a full National Certificate Learnership. This means the governing authority recognises the quality and the value of the courses which WESSA SustainEd offers.
Although WESSA SustainEd is a small unit within the WESSA family, the footprint of active participation is large. Since WESSA SustainEd is training trainers, the multiplier effect, of the participation, becomes part of WESSA SustainEd’s impact on caring for the earth.
Contact Details
Wayne Peddie
wp@wessa.co.za
033 3303931 x 134
Cell: 074 1200 338
POBox 394, Howick, 3290