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Have you received your matric results, and they’re not what you had hoped? Perhaps you’ve missed the mark to qualify for an undergraduate degree and are feeling hopeless and worried about your future career prospects. Here at African Academy, we believe that every young South African deserves the opportunity to pursue a meaningful study path that will set them up for a well-paying job in the future. This is why we have curated a number of short courses, higher certificates and diploma qualifications. Looking at your options It’s important to note that depending on what you want to study and where, there will be different admission requirements as well as various durations of study. (this often depends on whether a course is offered full-time or part-time). 1. Short courses Short courses generally run for a fixed amount of time, covering a specific topic. They are offered on a variety of forums, from national universities to private institutions and online universities.  They are an excellent option if you: 1) Are looking to study but have had to enter the workplace full-time straight after matric to earn an income. 2) Cannot afford the fees of a more formal qualification. 3) Did not pass matric 4) Would like to build on to an existing qualification or have a deeper understanding of a particular topic. Short courses cover a variety of subjects, from health and safety to digital marketing! Here at African Academy, our offering is focussed on draughting training, covering the civil, electrical, & mechanical fields. Software courses: As an Accredited Autodesk Training Centre, we offer high-quality, short draughting software courses that apply students’ learning to real-world scenarios. Software Including, Autocad® 2D, Autodesk Inventor®, Autodesk Revit®, Solid Works Essential 2.) Higher Certificates Higher certificates are referred to as NQF level 5 certifications and often prepare you with practical skills. These NQF Level 5 courses give you the hands-on skills you need to succeed in different jobs. In order to qualify for these courses, you generally need a National Senior Certificate (matric pass) or an NQF Level 4 qualification. At African Academy, we offer multiple higher certificates within the field, including the following: Project Management The Project Management Higher Certificate involves three key phases that equip students with essential skills for initiating, planning, and executing projects, including effective project delivery, control, and close-out processes. Piping Draughting Occupational Certificate Piping Draughts persons are responsible for designing technical plans and drawings necessary to build structures and/or piping equipment. Their responsibilities also include performing a range of activities to enhance work productivity and performance. This higher certificate aims to lay a foundation for future career advancement to supervisory and management qualifications within the Piping Engineering sector. Structural Steelwork Detailing This qualification was developed to assist with standardisation across the steel construction industry. This will allow a person to register as a structural steel detail draughts person! Multi-disciplinary Drawing Office Practice (MDDOP) The Multi-disciplinary Drawing Office Practice N4/N5 program is a one-year course covering various engineering disciplines such as Building, Mechanical, Piping, Electrical, and Structural Steel Detailing. With a focus on computer-aided design (CAD) and practical draughting software, you’ll gain skills in AutoCAD 2D, preparing you for roles like junior draughtsperson or CAD operator in the future! Successful completion opens pathways to further engineering qualifications. We could not recommend this course more, due to the excellent foundation it lays. 3.) Diplomas A diploma is a certificate that confirms an individual has reached a certain level of education or skill. Unlike a degree, diplomas usually align themselves with careers rather than academic fields and usually take anywhere from 2–3 years to complete. These NQF Level 6 courses often allow you to pursue higher-paying careers than higher certificates do. Here are some of your diploma options at African Academy: National N-Diploma In Mechanical Engineering This qualification will equip you with the skills to pursue a wide range of trade-related careers! Including (but not limited to): Diploma in Architectural Technology This diploma provides an introduction to the architectural profession and its role within the building industry, opening doors for further study in the following areas: Take your next step today… Regardless of your choice, make sure that whatever study decision you make in this season sets you up for the future that you want. One where you are doing something that you enjoy, not simply paying the bills, to ensure a happy and fulfilling future career. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly staff to answer any questions. Tel: +27 (0) 11 914 4340 WhatsApp: +27 (0) 73 103 9767 info@africanacademy.co.za (Image by Freepik)