Conservation Bridging Programme

Course ID
Youth Access
Department
Skills Development for Conservation
Level
NQF Level 2
Instructor
Fanuel Nyela, Various instructors
Method
Campus, Contact Training
Duration
6 months

The introduction to Conservation and Environmental Education Bridging Course started off as a pilot project in 2010 and due to its success, and with continued donor support, the course has been extended and revised to suit the needs of industry. 

Purpose

The 2022 Bridging Course focuses on exposing the learner to basic communication skills and mathematical literacy before getting into life of a field ranger in a conservation area.

The selected candidates for the Field Ranger training component will also have an opportunity to be trained as Conservation Security Officers and will exit the programme with Responsible Resource Use training. This essentially means that on completion of the Foundational Learning Competence, two thirds of the potential Ranger students will exit into the Field Ranger Level 2 programme, based on merit, aptitude and attitude.

These students will then complete the Conservation Security Officer Course and Responsible Resource Use training before deployment to a host conservation organization. The potential Ranger students will undergo a contact training session at the College for four months, comprising the different course components and will then be work-placed in host conservation organization for a month and half in order to get a real understanding of an entry-level career in conservation and to gain valuable field experience. During this time, the learners actively participate in daily patrols, field operations, the collection of field data, compiling field reports, game capturing/releasing, reporting procedures and attending poaching court cases.

Course Structure

The Bridging Course comprises five components: 

Foundational Learning Competency (FLC)

Field Ranger Training – NQF Level 2

Conservation Security Officer Training

Responsible Resource Use Course

Workplace Component – practical assessments

Admissions and selection how to apply

The Youth Access Bridging programme offered by the Wildlife College enables learners to acquire conservation and guiding knowledge as well as practice in the wildlife industry. 

Intake requirements: 

The learner will have appropriate levels of written communication, english proficiency, maths and occupational competence equivalent to at least school leaving standards. 

Course fees

Unless detailed in the course fact sheet, course fees are available on request. 

Funding will however be sought to help support historically disadvantaged students enrolled on this programme. 

Bursary support

Limited bursaries awarded to successful candidates, cover course fees, accommodation and meals. 

Contractual and cancellation penalties will apply. 

For further information on the Youth Access: Conservation and Environmental Education Bridging Programme please contact us below: