Graduate Development Programme 2008/9

1. Graduate Development Programme 2008/9 KWAZULU – NATAL DEPARTMENT OF ARTS,CULTURE & TOURISM

2. Background Information THETA through National Skills Funding window, to incentivise member-employers in providing: Unemployed graduates from designated groups with structured experiential learning programmes; Experiential learning opportunities to learners registered on structured learning programmes; To assist them to acquire critical work experience and for the sector to address scarce and critical skills.

3. Background Information Desired Outcome Opportunities created to provide learners with experiential training and internships. Collaborate with THETA and educational institutions in providing learners with work-exposed qualifications. Provide work-integrated learning opportunities to learners in completing the requirements of their qualifications.

4. Background Information Two grant types – Graduate Internship Grant (GIG), caters for unemployed graduates who require work placement / experience following completion of a registered qualification. Experiential Learning Grant (ELG), caters for learners who need in-service training as a requirement for the successful completion of a registered qualification.

5. Graduate Internship Grant

6. Programme Objectives Graduate Internship Grant (GIG) To provide workplace experience to graduates enabling them to acquire employable skills, gain workplace exposure and improve their opportunities of permanent employment or creating self-employment.

7. Graduate Internship Grant • Learner profile • Unemployed graduates from designated groups in possession of a one, two or three-year qualification in the following sub-disciplines : • Commerce and / or Finance • Tourism and Travel • Hospitality and Events • Sport and Recreation • Conservation and Ecotourism • Human Movement Science • Information Technology • Marketing • Any other sub-discipline articulating to the THETA scope

8. Graduate Internship Grant Learner profile Unemployed graduates must have studied with either – • HET or FET Accredited Institution • SETA Accredited Training Provider The interns shall, for all purposes be deemed Learners as contemplated in the Skills Development Act of 1998.

9. Payment Schedule 1 9

10. Payment Schedule 1 10

11. Experiential Learning Grant

12. Programme Objectives Experiential Learning Grant (ELG) To provide learners with a work integrated learning programme as required for the completion of a registered Qualification.

13. Experiential Learning Grant (ELG) Learner profile Learners from designated groups studying fulltime where it is a requirement of the course programme to undergo experiential learning Learners will be selected on the recommendation of the participating Training Institution.

14. Experiential Learning Grant Learners studying one, two or three-year qualifications in the following sub-disciplines: • Commerce and / or Finance • Tourism and Travel • Hospitality and Events • Sport and Recreation • Conservation and Ecotourism • Human Movement Science • Information Technology • Marketing • Any other sub-discipline articulating to the THETA scope.

15. ELG Payment schedule 2 15

16. ELG Payment schedule 2 16

17. Criteria for the selection of Employers THETA member (levy-paying) organisations; State departments paying an administration fee to THETA as per the Skills Development Levies Act; THETA constituent employers exempted from paying SDL; Member-organisations of other SETA’s (that may be considered for a grant equal to 50% of the total specified/learner).

18. Limitations on learner allocations Organisations employing 49 or less persons will not be allocated grants for more than four (10) interns. Organisations employing 50 or more persons will qualify for a maximum number of learner’s equivalent to a ratio of one (1) intern for every five (5) permanent employees.

19. Additional Requirements Employers - skills development plan that supports accommodation of experiential or in-service learning candidates; Employers - offer internship programmes to graduates/learners for a minimum period of six months. Employer’s workplace policies, procedures and regulations apply to the intern for the duration of the programme. Where possible, and at the discretion of the participating employer, company benefits enjoyed by permanent employees may be extended to the intern(s), e.g. medical aid, life insurance, ad-hoc training, etc. ;

20. Additional Requirements Employer - assign a Programme Coordinator and a mentor to ensure effective learning; All legislated safety, conditions of employment and other related workplace policies and regulations must be implemented to protect the interests of the learner; Preferably have an existing internship or experiential learning programme in place or developed; Regulations governing Learnerships will be enforced where applicable.

21. Conditions for Interns/Learners • Employers who wish to source interns directly from training institutions or their own sources are welcome to do so. • The employer ensures final selection of learners is consistent with the NSDS EE targets, i.e., • 85% Black, • 54% Female • and 4% Disabled • The employer will be required to notify THETA of the recruited interns and use a prescribed form to apply for funding;

22. Conditions for Interns/Learners • Learnership termination procedures (As per Learnership Regulations) will be adhered to by all parties involved; • The internship or experiential learning programme may only be terminated under the following conditions; • A learner is offered permanent employment elsewhere • By mutual agreement for any other reason agreed to by both parties and with THETA’s prior knowledge and permission; • A learner intends to pursue full time studies; • A learner is declared unfit by a registered medical doctor via a Medical Certificate; • In the case of the learners death.

23. Applications & Grant Disbursement Cycle: 2007 - 2008

24. Role of THETA • THETA will administer the applications, notice of approval and grants payments for participating employers; • THETA will provide qualifying employers with a database of potential candidates for the programmes, • THETA’s selection and approval decision is final and no discussions regarding rejection of applications, allocated learner numbers, etc. will be entered into; • In case of employers dealing directly with unemployed graduates or training institutions, the employer will apply to THETA on a prescribed form within the set timeframes in order to access the grant and comply with all requirements stipulated in the guidelines.

25. Exclusions Learners who have been through a Learnership programme do not qualify for these grants, as they are deemed to have workplace experience; The Graduate Development Programme does not lead to a qualification and therefore no training provider is required; Training providers do not qualify for these grants; (i.e. training providers may not provide internships) Employers taking learners for a period of less than 6 months do not qualify, as there is no shortage of such placements.

26. Provincial Allocation

27. Application Process Prospective Learners Currently studying prospective learners that need a THETA industry related experiential learning to complete a qualification must contact their institutions. Prospective learners who are no longer with their institutions must contact their former institutions. Unemployed Graduates Unemployed graduates in possession of the qualifications stated above must send their curriculum vitae, certified ID copy and statement of results by post to reach THETA by closing date at the address given.

28. Application Process • Copies of the guidelines and the application forms available from the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism: to be emailed to District Project Coordinator. • Alternatively: • Send request to hlongwan@dact.kzntl.gov.za • Access on-line at www.theta.org.za • The Deadline for the submission of these documents is • 30th September 2008,no later than 12H00.

29. Postal Addresses Interested applicants must submit all documents to DACT offices using addresses reflected below. Attention: Ms MD Ramarope Graduate Development Programme Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism Private Bag X9140, Pietermaritzburg 3200. Or hand delivered to 171 Boshoff Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Faxed applications will NOT be accepted.