The University of South Africa (Unisa) and 12 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges have signed memoranda of agreement that will enable the TVET colleges to offer Unisa qualifications on their college campuses.

The basis for formalising the partnership between the university and the colleges could be found in Section 43 of the Further Education and Training Colleges Act, now known as the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Act.

The CET Act stated that a public college may only provide higher education programmes under the authority of a higher education institution after permission was granted by the Higher Education and Training Minister and notice thereof was published in the Government Gazette.

Unisa was one of two public universities that had begun to build partnerships with TVET colleges.

Higher Education and Training director-general Gwebinkundla Qonde, who presided over the Tuesday signing of the agreements, thanked the Unisa vice-chancellor and the TVET college principals for taking the “bold step” to embark on the partnership.

He added that the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training, released earlier this year, highlighted the need to provide a range of accessible alternatives for young and older people in all post-school education and training institutions.

This would allow learning opportunities with clear linkages between schools, TVET colleges, universities, other providers of education and training and the world of work.

“I am delighted to see that the institutions have decided to implement this initiative with level five higher certificate qualifications, which is the ideal level and qualification type to allow students to articulate from school and TVET college programmes into diploma and degree studies,” he commented.

As a result of the collaboration, the College of Cape Town would now offer Higher Certificate in Tourism Management and Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development: Foundation Phase courses, while the Eastcape Midlands TVET college would offer a Higher Certificate in Tourism Management and a Higher Certificate in Banking.

The Ekurhuleni East TVET college would now be able to offer students a Higher Certificate in Tourism Management, while the False Bay TVET college would offer a Higher Certificate in Banking and the Flavius Mareka TVET college would offer a Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences.

A Higher Certificate in Banking would also be offered by the Gert Sibande TVET college, the Letaba TVET college, the Northlink TVET college, the Port Elizabeth TVET college and the Western TVET college.

Meanwhile, students would be able to receive a Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences from the Gert Sibande TVET college, the Port Elizabeth TVET college and the Western TVET college.

The Umfolozi TVET college would offer a Higher Certificate in Tourism Management, as well as a Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Science.

In addition, a Higher Certificate in Economic and Management Sciences and a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development: Foundation Phase would be offered by the West Coast TVET college.