The Terms & Conditions apply to learners intending to complete the occupational qualification.
Any practitioner can, however, register for individual knowledge and practical modules for continuous development.
All the requirements for the knowledge and practical modules must be completed to obtain a Certificate of Completion for the module.
NON-CONTRACTUAL, MODULAR ‘PAY-AS-YOU-LEARN’ (MPAYL) SYSTEM
Means that it is not required of the learner to complete a financial contract to register for the individual Knowledge and Practical modules (i.e. the qualification).
The qualification is sub-divided into individual credit-bearing Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) modules. The re-structuring of the qualification into credit-bearing Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) modules addresses / accommodates the requirements of flexibility for part-time students (i.e. employed staff) and also aims to make it affordability for all learners.
Learners pay per Period per Module (i.e. for both the Knowledge and Practical modules) prior to getting access to the learning material / content for the specific course / module. Each credit-bearing Knowledge and Practical module is costed individually based on the credit allocation / rating for that module.
Learners can select and complete an individual Knowledge and/or Practical module during a period that suits their programme. Each Knowledge and/or Practical module will be offered at three (3) different periods during an academic year. The learning material for each of the periods per module is exactly the same. As a result, learners can complete the occupational qualification over a longer period than the minimum period of two (2) years. For example, learners can complete year 1 (of the 2 year occupational qualification) either full-time (over a 1 year period), or part-time (over a 2 year to 2.5 year period).
As indicated, learners pay per Period per Module and will only be enrolled for the selected Period. Learners will register and pay to attend only one (1) Period per Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) module as the learning material covered is exactly the same for all periods. The cost of a Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) module is based on the credit allocation / rating of the module.
Learners must complete all requirements for the Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) module within the period (per module) selected.
The requirements for a Knowledge module (KM) include;
• Attendance of the contact sessions with the facilitator.
• Consultation of the prescribed reading material.
• Completion of the informal and formal tests, etc.
The requirements for a Practical module (PM) include;
• Complete tasks in preparation for the 2 week full-time practical sessions.
• In-person attendance of the 2 week blocks.
• Completion of daily practical tasks.
• Comprehensive report on the practical sessions, etc.
Water Business College (WBC) recognises and will meet the national requirements for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Please Note: A Certificate will be issued on completion of the Knowledge (KM) and Practical (PM) modules.
• The above re-structuring of the qualification into modules applies to year 1 of the 2 year occupational qualification.
DELIVERING THE OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATION
A hybrid / blended approach to offering the academic programs of WBC will be implemented to also cater to employed persons located in different provinces in South Africa (and beyond the borders of South Africa). Knowledge modules will be offered online while two, 2 week practical sessions must be attended in person.
The knowledge modules will be offered online, in two 2 hour online sessions, at least twice a week during the afternoons (Online lectures are currently scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 17h00 to 19h00). A minimum number of registered learners per module is required for the specific module to proceed.
Learners will be required to familiarise themselves with the relevant pre-scribed content / reading material, complete assignments as well as informal and formal tests to successfully complete a particular module. The assessments are designed to be completed online. The learners may, however, be required to download and upload completed assignments, etc. The number of assignments and tests depend on the credit allocation / rating of the module. Learners will receive a certificate (per module) if all the requirements for the module are met.
The practical modules will be scheduled and offered in-person at a practical site. The in-person and full-time attendance of two, 2 week practical sessions at a venue determined by WBC is compulsory. Each practical programme requires a minimum of 1 week preparation (prior to attending the 2 week practical session) as well as 2 weeks allocated to report writing (after attending the 2 week practical session). ‘Practical 3 – Know your Water Reticulation System’ will take the form of a comprehensive assignment developed by WBC specific to the learner’s profile.
Learners must complete three (3) practical sessions. The pre-requisites to gain entry to the practical sessions are as follows:
• On-Site Practical 1 – Water Reticulation Systems: Learners must complete Knowledge Modules 1 to 5 (i.e. KM01 to KM05).
• On-Site Practical 2 – Operation & Maintenance: Learners must complete Knowledge Modules 6 to 8 (i.e. KM06 to KM08).
• Practical 3 – Know your Water Reticulation System: Assignment developed by WBC specific to the learner’s profile. Learners must successfully complete On-Site Practical 1 and On-Site Practical 2.
WBC developed / built a ‘hands-on’ / practical laboratory (i.e. a prototype water reticulation system) to simulate (for training purposes) the water reticulation processes / systems of water service providers (i.e. municipalities) and private industry (eg. mines, industrial plants, etc).
Learners are required to attend two, 2 week practical sessions (4 weeks in total during the academic year) for in-person, hands-on training at our practical site. Please see a video of our practical site by accessing the following YouTube link: Click Here!
WBC has recently dissembled the practical site after calibration of the instruments and the conducting of two practical sessions during the pilot programme. The practical site will be re-assembled, at a more appropriate locality, in time of the next practical sessions.
EXAMINATIONS / ASSESSMENTS
Examinations, Re-Examinations and Summative Examinations will be conducted in-person at pre-determined examination venues (unless otherwise informed).
The pre-requisites to gain entry to the examinations are as follows:
• Examination Paper 1 – Learners must complete Knowledge Modules 1 to 4.
• Examination Paper 2 – Learners must complete Knowledge Modules 5 to 6.
• Examination Paper 3 – Learners must complete Knowledge Modules 7 to 8.
The pre-requisites to gain entry to the re-examinations are as follows:
• Re-Examination Paper 1 – Mark between 45% to <50% for Examination Paper 1.
• Re-Examination Paper 2 – Mark between 45% to <50% for Examination Paper 2.
• Re-Examination Paper 3 – Mark between 45% to <50% for Examination Paper 3.
The pre-requisites to gain entry to the summative examinations are as follows:
• Summative Examination Paper 1:
o Learners failed a relevant re-examination paper.
o Learners successfully completed Knowledge Modules 1 to 5.
• Summative Examination Paper 2:
o Learners failed a relevant re-examination paper.
o Learners successfully complete Knowledge Modules 6 to 8.
• Informal and formal online tests are set for each Knowledge module (KM).
• The informal and formal online tests form part of the requirements to successfully complete a Knowledge module (KM).
PRACTICAL ASSESSMENTS
The requirements for 2 week Practical modules (PM) include;
• Complete pre-practical assignments / tasks in preparation for the 2 week, full-time practical sessions.
• Written and verbal assessments will be conducted during the 2 week practical sessions.
• Complete daily practical tasks / scenarios.
• Each learner must complete a comprehensive report on the practical session, etc.
A PASS MARK OF 50% APPLIES TO:
• All informal and formal tests.
• All examinations, re-examinations, and summative examinations.
• All practical assessments.
• The weighting of the formal tests (per module), as a contribution to the final year mark (i.e. year 1) for the knowledge modules, differs based on the credit allocations of the individual modules.
• The weighting of the individual examination papers, as a contribution to the final examination mark for Year 1 (of the qualification), differs based on the credit allocations of the individual modules constituting the specific examination.
• The weighting of the individual practical sessions, as a contribution to the final practical mark for year 1, differs based on the credit allocations for individual practical sessions.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES
• Complete the application form for the qualification. Upload certified identity document and certified academic records (i.e. Matric Certificate and/or Highest Tertiary Qualification) as required on the application form.
• Register and pay for a specific Period per Knowledge (KM) module (Table 1).
o Each Knowledge module (KM) will be offered on three (3) different periods during an academic year.
o Learners indicate / select one (1) Period per Knowledge module (KM).
o Registered learners will only be enrolled for the specific Period per Knowledge module (KM).
o The learning material for each of the periods per module is exactly the same.
• Register and pay for a specific Period per Practical (PM) module (Table 2).
o Each Practical module (PM) will be offered on three (3) different periods during an academic year.
o Learners indicate / select one (1) Period per Practical module (PM).
o Registered learners will only be enrolled for the specific Period per Practical module (PM).
o The learning material for each of the periods per module is exactly the same.
• Register & Pay per Examination / Re-Examination / Summative Examination (Table 3).
o Each examination will be offered on three (3) different dates during an academic year.
o All examinations will be conducted in-person at a venue determined by WBC.
o Learners select and pay per examination date.
Please Note: Learners must carefully consider the pre-requisites to gain entry to the practical sessions, examinations, etc. prior to registering and paying for the knowledge and practical modules
OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATION
A learner can then achieve / obtain the occupational qualification on completion of all the knowledge and practical modules as well as the examinations for year 1 and the workplace skills modules for year 2.
Interested practitioners / technical staff (not interested in a qualification) can register for individual knowledge modules as well as practical modules and on completion receive a ‘Certificate of Completion’ for the particular module completed.
Interested learners and practitioners must familiarise themselves with information on, and the structure of, the 2 year occupational qualifications on the Water Business College (WBC) website.
