In South Africa, learnerships and internships, both provide you with a successful work experience. In this comprehensive article we will explore the comparison and differences between the two for clear understanding.
Both learnerships and internships provide valuable job opportunities in South Africa. People often get confused between the two as both of them can provide you with work experience. It is true that they share some similarities but there are differences too among their outcomes, objectives and structure.
This comprehensive guide delves into the key differences between learnerships and internships, its advantages and disadvantages. This guide will further help individuals in South Africa make informed decisions about the best option they can go for.
Understanding Learnerships
Learnership is basically a structured training or learning program that provides both practical and theoretical workplace skills. It is a programme which is usually offered for employees of a company who have matric as their highest qualification.
This formal training program is focused on specific fields and is recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Once your learnership is complete you may receive a nationally recognized qualification in both theoretical and practical work components.
Characteristics of Learnerships
Structured-Learning: Learnerships enable individuals to learn through class-room based education and combine it with practical training on the specific job. This structure ensures that learners can gain a complete understanding of the work in the field that they have chosen for themselves.
Learning period: These theoretical and practical classes usually last between 12 to 24 months. The duration for the learning period usually depends on the specific program or the qualification level.
Achievement-oriented: Upon the completion of this program, learners receive a nationally recognized certification. This can further enhance their chance of getting good jobs in the future. The rate of employability for individuals who have completed this program is higher compared to others due to more experience in the specific field.
Salary: Individuals who are participating in this program often get a salary or so called stipend. This is financial support given to learners to help them with the living expenses and the training they are currently undergoing.
A binding contract: The program involves a binding contract between the employee and the employer that states the responsibility of both sides. This contract further ensures that learners receive good training that involves practicals and theory based classes as well.
Intended Audience: Learnerships are usually targeted for the young generation who are new in the workplace. However, they are also available to people who are wanting to change professions or learn skills regarding a specific field.
As we mentioned, learnerships allow the individual to obtain a formal qualification. This formal qualification can help boost the job opportunities for them and help them build a secure career.
This program ensures that learners get quality education that combines practical and theoretical classes for specific fields. Learners develop useful skills during the training that increases the chance for a good job.
The training program ensures that learners stay stress free during the learning period. They provide them sufficient funds to help with their living expenses which ensures they focus on learning and training.
The real-world experience or practical experience make learners confident in their specific fields. After the completion of the program, the training aspect ensures they are familiar with work related matters once they get a job.
Disadvantages of Learnerships
As we know that learnerships offer many advantages, but participants might also experience some disadvantages . Here are some common disadvantages participants might experience:
It might be challenging for the participants to give time for other studies or part time jobs. Learnerships have specific requirements and in some cases they have high demands from their participants which can affect their other commitments.
Completing a learnership from a company doesn’t always get you a job. Even though the program provides valuable skills, you might still have to search for work. Hence there is no assurance of immediate employment from the host company.
Learners are required to balance between theoretical and practical classes which can be quite challenging for some individuals. This work schedule demands patience and commitment to manage the workload, so it can be stressful for some learners.
The training given to learners can sometimes have a bad quality depending on the training provider. Some learners may find the quality in specific companies is not up to their expectations resulting in having a bad experience at work.
The stipend is usually lower than the regular salary and might not be enough to cover all the living expenses especially if the learner has additional responsibilities.
Understanding Internships
Internships are offered by government agencies, organizations or companies. It is a temporary work experience program that provides students or graduates with an opportunity to have a practical experience in a particular field. Internships are usually less formal than learnerships and are not linked to a specific qualification.
The idea behind internship is to enable inexperienced graduates or students to gain experience in their specific field which can lead to a permanent job in the future. In some cases, individuals may get job offers in the same company where the internship was offered.
Characteristics of Internships
Work experience: Internships usually provide individuals with practical work experience. The interns are supposed to work within a company in their respective fields daily.
Time period: Work timing may vary for different companies. The duration for internships can range between a few weeks to 12 months. Generally, there are a variety of internships available which ensures that students can find any internship that suits their qualification.
Formal Qualification:Â Internships do not lead to formal qualification unlike learnerships. But at the completion of an internship contract with the company, interns may receive a certificate stating their work experience.
Stipend: As for internships, you do not usually receive a salary. But it depends on the specific company you are applying for an internship. The company decides whether to give you a salary or not according to your qualification and field selection.
Intended Audience: For interns, the companies usually look for students or graduates who want to gain experience in a particular field.Â
Flexibility: As compared to learnerships, internships are much more flexible and provide part time or full time jobs with no formal educational component.
Advantages of Internships
Internships allow the participants to use their experience in the real world after the completion of their specific courses.Â
For a new comer, there are many opportunities for them to be socially active in their field and get a chance to build professional networks and friendships within their industry which can help them in the long run.
Companies or organizations offering internships allow the individuals to select or explore different career choices. This method helps them to build a strong career depending on their preferences.
Any experience gained during the period of internship can enhance the CV (Curriculum Vitae) of the individual and also increase the chances of job prospects.
Being a part of internship programs enables you to have a strong grip of your field. It makes you a competitive candidate in the job market.
Disadvantages of Internships
As we mentioned, internships are great for gaining work experience but there are some drawbacks as well. Here we will explain few disadvantages in simple terms:
For internships, many companies offer low pay or no pay at all to the interns. Gaining experience is very valuable but it can be hard for the individual to manage their daily living expenses while working part-time or full time for a company without pay.
Interns may get basic tasks such as paperwork or making copies that do not expose them to meaningful and challenging work. This can lead to less educational experience during the period of internship leading to less or no experience in the specific work field at all.
As we know that internships are for a short period of time, for complicated and advanced fields, a few weeks or 12 months is a very short time to fully learn or develop good skills in the particular field.
Unlike learnerships, individuals who are in internship programs may not have a structured training program. This means that you will have less experience and guidance or fewer opportunities for skill development.
In some cases, interns are not given proper instructions from their employers about the work they are supposed to do. This leads them to confusion about what they can expect from the particular experience.
Table showcasing differences between learnerships and internships
Learnerships and internships, both offer valuable opportunities for skill development and work experience but there are some key differences among the two. In the table below we have mentioned some key difference between the two to help our audience get a better understanding of both in South Africa:
Learnership
Learnerships are structured program that offers two components which are Experience and Theory.
Learnerships usually last longer than internships. The duration is generally between 12 to 24 months.
Anyone with or without a proper qualification can participate in learnerships.
Learnerships are based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) levels where level 1 contains Adult Basic Education Training (ABET) and Occupational Certificates. Level 10 is a doctorate.
Learnerships involve a legally binding contract between a learner, employer and training provider.
Participating in learnerships leads to a nationally recognized qualification after completion. The certification can help individuals secure employment in specific fields
Internship
Internships are more focused on real time job or practical work experience and no formal educational component
The duration for internships may vary from a few weeks to a year.
Internships are intended for people with diplomas or degrees in the specific field.
The requirement for interns is that they must have some sort of qualifications and graduates or those with tertiary education but lack experience .
Internships tend to be less formal and more flexible. It does not need any formal contract and depends on the specific needs of the employer and learner.
Interns do not end up in getting any formal qualification. However they may get a certificate for completion at the end of their term which can also be useful for a job application or CV.
FAQs:
In South Africa, learnerships are available to citizens who are unemployed and meet a certain age criteria. It is also available to people looking for new jobs or want to change their careers.
Individuals participating for learnerships can get a salary that ranges between R6000 to R8000. For mechanics it is R6275 and for a Rigger it is R7627.
Yes you can do more than one learnership but not simultaneously. You can complete a learnership at one NQF level and then apply for another after the completion.
It depends on the qualification of the individual. The tasks given to interns are either administrative or specialized projects depending on their skills and education.Â
You can easily find an internship through online job portals available and company websites who are looking for interns. Make sure to apply early and prepare an attractive resume and a cover letter on the specific internship you are applying for.
Conclusion
To conclude, learnerships and internships are both invaluable opportunities for individuals who are seeking work experience and enhance their skills in the specific field. Learnerships offer a more structured path whereas internships tend to be more flexible and less formal. Both training programs play a vital role for individuals to build skills, make networking connections and increase your chances in securing a good career path.
These programs not only help you to develop your skills but also contribute significantly to the growth of various organizations and companies. Moreover, it is essential to understand these programs and the differences among them in order to choose the right option for yourself. By doing that, you may get yourself a strong and successful career path.
Andrietta is 25-year-old Blogger and Digital Marketer from South Africa. She is Certified Computer Engineer and currently doing work on many Digital Marketing projects. She is running many websites as well.
