Training
NICDAM is accredited as a Skills Development Provider with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) (SDP 12220/16/080).
NICDAM is registered as a fully Accredited Training Provider with SAQA through the HWSETA (No HW592PA05000123), ETDP SETA and the SERVICES SETA.
NICDAM has, in order to comply with the provisions of the Further Education and Training Colleges Act, No 16 of 2006, established the NICDAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (PTY) LTD. Registration No 2012/FE07/014 which is wholly owned by the NICDAM Trust and which is set up for non-profit purposes.
The vision of the NICDAM Community College is to play an important role in widening access to education and responding to development needs of society and individuals. The mission of the NICDAM Community College is to deliver quality needs based education, learner support and assessment through qualifications, skills programmes and short courses at levels 2, 3 and 4 of the NQF (National Qualifications Framework) which is accessible to all learners and society at large.
NICDAM is currently (2017) accredited to present nine full qualifications and 23 skills programmes that fall under the HWSETA, 1 full qualification that falls under the SERVICES SETA and two learning programmes that fall under the EDTP SETA. All learning programmes / training material were developed by NICDAM internally. None was developed and purchased from other providers. NICDAM is also accredited by the QCTO to present the Occupational Certificate: Health Promotion Officer (Community Health Worker).
Training numbers
NICDAM is a training provider operating nationally since 1999. We have trained more than 46,000 individuals in a variety of short courses and formal accredited learning programmes. From 2007 to 2016:
12,978 learners obtained credits for SAQA unit standards, part qualifications or skills programmes.
2,663 learners obtained credits for full SAQA qualifications.
NICDAM has presented training across the country, even in the most rural areas.
Learning Programme Development
One of NICDAM’s key strengths is its expertise in the in-house creation of learning programmes and training material. All our accredited and non-accredited, informal training material have been developed by NICDAM staff members who are experts in the particular fields.
We offer a variety of services along the continuum of learning programme development:
Training needs assessments,
Curriculum design,
Aligning learning content to SAQA unit standards so that learners can achieve credits for skills programmes,
Modifying learning material to meet clients’ specific requirements,
Customising learning content for specific target audiences,
Development of the complete learning material package, i.e. learner manuals/guides, learner workbooks containing formative assessment activities, learner POE frameworks/formats, assessment & moderation guides containing formative and summative assessment tools and memorandums/model answers, detailed facilitators guides, PPT presentations, practical/workplace guides for mentors, practical/workplace guides for learners, including logbooks.
Assessment Centre
NICDAM has an operational Assessment Centre at the Head Office in Pretoria. The Centre deals with 1500 -1700 assessments and moderations annually. Three registered moderators and 13 assessors ensure timeous and sound assessment practices. This team is supported by part time assessors and moderators as the need arises.
Apart from undertaking learner assessments for in-house training, NICDAM provides assessment services to other training providers needing assistance (external assessments). This service includes the review of assessment tools, assessment and moderation as well as verification by the HWSETA.
The assessment centre is equipped to deal with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessments. We have two qualified RPL assessors
NICDAM, with the HWSETA, conducted the first large scale Recognition of Prior (RPL) project and brought 2717 learners in the Community Home Based care sector closer to a full qualification. Through this project, NICDAM developed RPL tools and processes equipping us to conduct RPL assessment against all the unit standards and qualifications that we are registered for.
Mentoring & Coaching
Mentoring and coaching is an integrated part of NICDAM’s training methodology. Mentoring takes place in the post classroom, practical workplace phase. Mentors coach learners on their respective job sites and provide support to learners to complete practical activities that form part of their portfolios of evidence (POE). They work towards creating an enhancing environment for learners to apply and integrate newly assimilated theoretical knowledge in the practical work environment. Mentors also conduct assessments and give feedback to learners.
NICDAM has a team of seasoned mentors who work all over the country and are fluent in all of the local languages.
In addition to our own mentoring programmes, NICDAM presents mentoring capacity building programmes, i.e.:
Design of a suitable mentoring model
Selection, screening and orientation of mentors or mentoring organizations
Building the capacity of mentors and mentoring organizations
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of a mentoring model and interventions