Lgseta sagi bursary letter

23 May 2017

Attention: Municipal Manager Manager Technical Services Manager Planning Human Resources Manager Skills Development Facilitator Geomatics Graduates Dear Sir/Madam

LGSETA CANDIDACY PHASE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TRAINING TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION IN THE GEOMATICS (GISc/GEOINFORMATICS) ENVIRONMENT COMMENCING 2017 In response to the shortage of technical staff in local government, the LGSETA has recognised the need to support geomatics candidates to develop the competencies required for professional registration. The most effective process for developing such competence is to:      

Ensure that graduates register as candidates with their statutory bodies Follow a structured training programme covering an adequate range of activities Ensure that a mentor is in place to oversee development and implementation of a training programme and monitor progress Ensure that adequate supervision and coaching takes place Ensure that candidates take responsibility for the work assigned to them, record their experiences and review their progress on a regular basis with their mentors Ensure that candidates attend supplementary training as required by the professional body

The LGSETA, working with the respective professional body and voluntary associations, has launched a programme which allows for bursaries and mentors to be deployed supporting the development of geomatics candidates to register with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC) in terms of the Geomatics Profession Act, 2013 (Act 19 of 2013).

Candidate support will be offered in: 

Geomatics / GISc

Who can apply?

Geomatics (GISc/geoinformatics) practitioners not yet registered with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC) in terms of Act 19 of 2013 or wishing to upgrade their registration levels.  Technicians, technologists and professional practitioners in possession of a national diploma, BTech, BA or BSc degree who wish to work towards registering with the SAGC 

Those who have qualifications recognised by the SAGC

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 Those who have no formal qualifications or part qualifications in GISc (For bursars only)  Preference will be given to those already registered with the SAGC as candidates Geomatics (GISc/geoinformatics) Practitioners  Applicants must have a geomatics qualification which is recognised by the South African Geomatics Profession Council (SAGC) i.e. a GISc/geoinformatics degree or diploma from an accredited geomatics programme with specialisation in GISc/geoinformatics (i.e. UCT, US, UP, UFS, UKZN, CPUT, DUT, MUT, TUT, Esri South Africa or WITS). 

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Applications from persons with relevant and appropriate qualifications from nonaccredited institutions i.e. UNIGIS or University Fort Hare that meet or partly meet the academic requirements set by the SAGC will also be considered with certain provisos Applicant working with GIS applications in the employment of a municipality with no formal qualification.

Criteria for applications:     

Preference will be given to those who are permanently in the employ of a local government entity but those on contract may also apply Be South African citizens Preference will be given to those already registered with the SAGC as candidates Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged, women and disabled candidates, however no candidate is excluded Preference will be given to applicants who form part of a group of staff requiring mentoring per municipality, in order to benefit from economies of scale, but individuals in outlying areas may also apply and an attempt will be made to pair them with the larger groupings that are identified.

What will LGSETA expect from the beneficiaries and the municipality? 

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The municipality employing the individual agrees to provide adequate supervision, to release candidates to attend workshops, for mentoring sessions and to release them for secondments where experience opportunities within the municipality are inadequate.

Beneficiaries will be expected to sign a learning and or bursary agreement with the LGSETA in which they commit to applying themselves throughout the programme, preparing experience reports and cooperating with mentors, programme managers and LGSETA staff.

Beneficiaries are required to remain within the employ of the local government sector for a two-year period after completion of the programme or professional registration.

The employer will also be asked to sign the agreement and to support candidates in all their training and experience endeavours.

Beneficiaries must have access to computers, email and the internet, to be able to communicate with mentors, upload reports and complete assignments.

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Beneficiaries should not be a recipient of any other form of candidate funding for the duration of the LGSETA candidacy support programme.

Beneficiaries must declare any other form of employee educational assistance they are receiving.

What does the programme cover?  

Annual candidate registration fees The provision of an external mentor to plan, oversee and review structured training towards registration with the SAGC  Delivery of workshops as required  The oversight of assignments  Fees for attending courses (including formal programmes or bursars) approved by the programme The closing date for applications is 15 July 2017. Beneficiaries will be informed on 20 July.

Applicants who has not received any feedback by the end of July should consider their applications as unsuccessful. An online application system for employees will be made available during the workshop. All applications for the bursary and/or mentoring program should be submitted via the online system. For further information please contact: Profession GISc Practitioners

Organisation South African Geomatics Institute

Contact Dr. Heindrich du Plessis

Contact details Dupfam@iafrica.com or

Admin.officer@sagi.co.za or Fax 031-563 5254

Yours sincerely

Dr Heindrich du Plessis LGSETA_SAGI/GISSA Programme manager

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