Advanced Diploma in Adult and Community Education and Training
Education, Training and Development - Adult Learning
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The Advanced Diploma in Adult and Community Education and Training aims to provide a further postgraduate professional qualification for Adult Education and Training (AET) and Community Education and Training (CET) educators and lecturers. It intends to:
- Offer intellectual enrichment in Adult Learning Theory and Practice to enhance teaching and learning.
- Provide a contextual and historical approach to the field and policy development.
- Investigate theoretical and practical models of community development for social change.
- Focus intensively on two applied specialisms: Curriculum Studies and Design, and Leading and Managing Education Projects.
- Develop first-level leadership capabilities in the ACET field.
This qualification will enable learners to reflect on their practice, deepen their understanding of current thinking, practice, theory, and methodology in their specialization areas. It prepares them for specialized professional roles and further academic pursuits.
Rationale:
The qualification is a response to the Department of Higher Education and Training's (DHET) policy on minimum requirements for educators and lecturers in Adult and Community Education and Training. The target audience includes AET and CET educators working in both formal and non-formal sectors. The qualification aligns with the national and international focus on adult education within the context of lifelong learning.
Its goals are to address the current shortcomings in AET and CET content, pedagogic knowledge, and practitioner skills. By enhancing the quality of teaching and training, it indirectly contributes to meeting the educational needs of communities, unemployed adults, and youth seeking reskilling for employment.
The qualification is designed to meet the specific needs of educators in various settings such as community colleges, further education and training centers, NGOs, trade unions, and other organizations involved in adult education and community development. It is grounded in AET and CET practice and informed by current research, making it a relevant response to the requirements of the profession.
Outcomes
- The learners will be able to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information which is required to function in a global age in which knowledge is a key driver of professional development.
- Understand contextual influences on Adult and Community Education and Training in South Africa drawing from South African, African and International literature.
- Communicate effectively using different modes of communication.
- Understand what "theory" is, and how theories of learning inform our practice.
- Understand the history of the field as well as Policy and Development towards Social Change.
- Identify innovative dimensions of different curricular programmes which could be applied in practice for different constituencies.
- Identify and solve problems in which responses display responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
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Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Demonstrate understanding of important concepts relating to 'professionalisation' and 'development'.
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Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Analyse development projects.
- Enable students to make links between Adult Education and Social Change in different sites and development issues both locally and internationally.
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Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Use oral, written, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) presentations for assessment.
- Assessment will be continuous and formative in all these modes.
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Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the language and concepts of different theories of learning.
- Locate approaches to learning within a context and broader understanding of the different theoretical traditions in adult learning.
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Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Examine and discuss the changing context, changing identities, and changing roles of adult educators in relation to policies for adult community educators and trainers.
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Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Demonstrate competence in curriculum design, assessment, and evaluation of a programme.
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Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Interpret texts within the area of Adult and Community Education and Training.
Integrated Assessment:
- The qualification will use both Summative and Formative Assessment.
- Assessment in all modules requires written work, oral presentation, and some courses will be project-based.
- Each module will have at least one assessment task during the course designed as a learning opportunity and to provide feedback to learners.
- All modules in this qualification will be assessed partly by written assignment or project and partly orally.
- The emphasis is on the development of conceptual and analytical tools, and the appropriate use of such tools for reflecting critically on (and thus enhancing) professional practice.
Conclusion:
- Assessment by assignment is deemed best able to achieve these aims, with its focus on reading widely, careful exposition of concepts, and intelligent application of concepts to analyze professional practice.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.