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National Higher Certificate in Leather Technology
The National Higher Certificate in Leather Technology is an advanced course in leather processing that covers all aspects of leather making at a fundamental level of understanding. All concepts are covered in detail and this requires that students have a good education prior to entering the course.
It is primarily designed as a two year course, but there is flexibility as to the duration of study. It consists of six modules that cover the main aspects of leather processing.
Module 1: Skin Structure, Preservation, Beamhouse, Tanyard
Module 2: Dyehouse Operations
Module 3: Leather Finishing
Module 4: Clean Technologies
Module 5: Miscellaneous Tannages
Module 6: Leather Project
Course Curriculum
The curriculum details for each module are as follows:
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
Module 6
Entry Requirements
The National Higher Certificate course is run at a high level and will require students of a higher academic standard. Ideally candidates will have at least 12 years of schooling with Science and Math as one of their final year subjects, or have sucessfully passed an Intermediate Level course. Prospective candidates who wish to do more than one module in a year will have to write a competency test to determine their academic capabilities. Based on the results achieved, I.S.T.T. may recommend the student study's less modules than originally planned.
Registration
Students who wish to enrol for the National Higher Certificate must obtain an application form from I.S.T.T. This must be completed and returned to I.S.T.T. together with the supporting documentation.
Students who do not pass a module examination may rewrite the exam at the next opportunity. Repeating the practical work for that module for a second time may not be necessary provided the student passed the practical course work.
Method of Instruction
The course is run principally through the medium of distance education, but this is complimented by the student attending two week practical course per subject module at ISTT's experimental tannery. Students will receive course handouts and practical guidelines. Students will have to collate the handouts into a set of study notes. Theoretical assignments that have to be submitted for evaluation, evaluation of practical work done, and electronic communication with I.S.T.T. training staff compliment the distance learning process. One of the advantages of studying while remaining at the place of employment is that the learning process is reinforced daily with direct comparisons possible between what is being studied and what actually happens in the workplace.
Language Medium
All study material is available in English only. Students must submit assignment and examination answers in English only.
Assignments
Students have to complete three assignments for each module during the academic year. These can be submitted electronically or by post to I.S.T.T. for evaluation. The marks obtained count towards the overall course mark. Due to the advanced nature of the course, additional reading is a prerequisite for answering assignments and examination questions.
Examinations
Examinations can only be written at a venue and on a date specified by I.S.T.T. An external examination fee is payable if examinations are not written at I.S.T.T.
A student will only be allowed to attempt the examination of each module THREE times before they will be excluded from the National Higher Certificate course. Students that perform poorly may be excluded from the course after consultation with their respective companies.
The overall pass mark for each National Higher Certificate module is 50%. Students who do not pass an examination can rewrite the exam at a later stage. A rewrite examination fee (25% of module fee plus venue and external examiners fee) will be charged.
Practical Work
Each module of the National Higher Certificate in Leather Technology will require students to attend a two week practical course at ISTT in Grahamstown. Students will have to write a test on the last day of the course and also submit a practical report on the work carried out on the course. Students should bring with them overalls, boots, gloves, pen, paper, ruler, calculator and their course notes when attending the parctical course.
Course Fees
Click here for the current course fees.
Certification
Students who successfully pass the National Higher Certificate in Leather Technology will be awarded the qualification from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, a highly respected University in South Africa. The National Higher Certificate exams are externally examined by University College Northampton, formerly known as Nene College.