The ABCs of Work-Based Programmes - Learnerships vs Internships
In the quest to earn valuable BBBEE points for Skills Development, it’s vital for companies to invest in the correct Skills Development training. However, with the availability of both, we distinguish key differences between Learnerships and Internships for Skills Development and answer the question of Learnerships vs Internships? While both have their similarities, they also have distinct differences and we’ll break down learnerships vs internships to give you practical ways of how you can implement these training processes into your business.
Here are the main differences - Learnership vs internships:
To put it simply a learnership programme differs from an internship as it contains both practical and theoretical learning components. An internship differs from a learnership as it focuses primarily on giving individuals workplace experience.
What is a Learnership?
Learnerships help individuals develop specific skills and gain valuable work experience. It is a work-based learning program that includes both theoretical and practical learning components. After completion, students receive a nationally recognized certificate that they can use to apply for jobs. This qualification is accredited with SAQA and measured with NQF, which ensures that students are receiving a high-quality education
Thus, learnerships are a suitable option for individuals that do not have any form of tertiary education. It gives them the opportunity to work while they learn and earn a SETA learnership stipend to cover their monthly expenses.
Unlike an internship, a learnership involves three major parties, the employer, the learner, and a training provider. The employer is responsible for providing the students with hands-on training experiences. A training provider will step in to deliver comprehensive theoretical training to equip the students with the right foundational knowledge. This may take place in the classrooms of the training provider for unemployed individuals or on the premises of the company for employed individuals.
What is an Internship?
An internship on the other hand is usually aimed at students or recent graduates that are looking for practical work experience in a professional setting to build up their resumes. These programmes are accredited and can also contribute to your BEE scorecard. For an internship to be BBBEE compliant, an individual will need to either complete a workplace experience ‘module’ or professional registration. Therefore, internships are considered a candidacy programme and can often serve as the final stage in overall training.
While an internship doesn’t require a training provider, the programme will need to be overseen by a qualified senior employee that will report on the skills obtained by the learner. Furthermore, your business will need to provide on-the-job training, career guidance, and relevant work experience to internship candidates.
Therefore, internships differ from learnerships as individuals that complete an internship generally have college degrees or qualifications. The individuals are given entry-level positions suited to the qualification that they have studied.
The different purposes of Learnerships vs Internships:
Learnerships and internships are both set up with the same goal in mind, to give the youth of South Africa an opportunity to enter the workplace and contribute to the economy. They differ in that learnerships aim to give those that can’t afford a college degree or qualification the opportunity to obtain an accredited qualification. Internships in comparison take on students or individuals that already have the theoretical knowledge to complete workplace tasks. Collectively, their main purpose is to give these students the work experience they need to improve their employability.
The duration difference between Learnerships vs Internships:
Putting your staff or an unemployed individual on a learnership is often a year-long commitment. This is set up to give students enough time to complete their theoretical and practical components. However, there are some instances where a learnership can be completed in a shorter time frame if students meet certain prior learning requirements.
An internship in comparison varies in length. It can take one month, three to six months or up to a year to complete. This depends on the nature of the internship, the industry, or the requirements set up by accrediting bodies or institutions.
Who qualifies for a Learnership and an Internship?
Another important factor to consider before putting individuals on a learnership vs internship programme, is the specific requirements that are needed for Skills Development compliance. BBBEE aims to empower individuals that fall within designated groups that were previously affected by the apartheid era. Therefore, to comply with BEE students will need to be of black, coloured or Indian ethnicity to qualify. Another important quality of the individuals is the age bracket they fall under. The main aim of Skills Development is to alleviate the pressures of youth unemployment. Therefore, individuals will need to fall between the ages of 18 to 35.
The BBBEE implications of Learnerships vs Internships:
Both learnerships and internships are seen as effective methods to implement Skills Development within businesses. However, learnerships do tend to offer more incentives, tax rebates and BBBEE advantages. An internship can offer your business up to 11 points for your BBBEE scorecard. In comparison, learnerships can award your company with up to 25 points for your scorecard. In addition to this you can receive tax rebates of a significant amount.
Still wondering what is best between Learnerships vs Internships? Ultimately this choice may all boil down to your business requirements. Therefore, it is important to enquire with a BEE consultant as to which tactic can be better suited to your business and it’s specific needs.
How Learnerships and Internships can benefit your company:
As the primary focuses are similar with learnerships vs internships, being to change the lives of the students, they are also extremely valuable for your business. Here’s how you can benefit:
1. Learnerships
- Increased talent. A learnership programme is designed to cater to companies in varying industries with different needs. A learnership can help you find the right people to fill in the skills gaps you may be experiencing in your business, therefore, leading to better productivity and output.
- Improved Job satisfaction. Retaining talent should be a top priority for most businesses. Not only does it cut down on costs, but it can also boost productivity and enhance employee engagement. Upskilling is a great way to show your employees you value them and care about their career progression.
- Succession Planning. Nurturing young talent can set your business up for successful future leaders. This will create a pool of talented individuals that are ready to take on higher-level positions when the need arises. Therefore, investing in staff development will cut down on hiring costs and show clear career progressions to your employees.
2. Internships
- It is customised to your business needs. An internship is focused on developing specific skills and earning experience rather than following specific learning criteria to obtain a qualification. Therefore, this gives your business more flexibility to tailor an internship to the specific needs that arise in your company.
- Gain access to talent pools. Internships give you access to many talented individuals that are ready to be placed in the job market. An internship can serve as a way for you to see what an individual brings to the table and even hire them after their internship period is up.
- Gain new ideas. An internship programme may help your company gain new insights and perspectives from young and upcoming professionals. This may give your organization the boost it needs to solve recurring problems or find new ways to inspire customers.
Examples of Learnerships:
Learnership programmes are completed with accredited training providers. When looking for a learnership it is important to make sure the learnership is accredited with a relevant SETA. There are a variety of learnership programmes to choose from that are suitable for various businesses. Edge Training is an accredited training provider that has over 24 years of experience in Skills Development training. We offer Business Administration Learnerships, Freight & Logistics Learnerships, and Information Technology learnerships. Have a look at our full range of accredited learnerships here.
Here is an example of a learnership programme that positively impacted the life of one of our students. Meet
Sthabile Mnyandu, she completed a Business Administration Learnership NQF 3 which was sponsored by GeoAfrika Technologies.
During her theoretical training Sthabile learned about information handling, communications, enterprise and customer service, technology, organisation skills, self-development and so much more. Sthabile later used these skills to her advantage when she had to complete the practical component of her learnership.
Once her learnership process was completed Sthabile was absorbed into HSG Attorneys, resulting in 5 bonus BEE points for absorption. Sthabile now acts as a valuable member of the business administration team. To find out more about her story, watch her Stories of Hope video here.
Next Steps:
In conclusion, the similarities between learnerships vs internships are that they can both offer exceptional learning experiences for individuals. However, learnerships may stand out for their structured approach and focus on industry-recognised qualifications. If you are ready to invest in comprehensive learnership training and maximise your employee’s potential then reach out to Edge Training. We are a BBBEE Level 1 training provider with over 22 years of experience in Skills Development and training. Our wide range of learnership offerings will ensure that your staff has a solid theoretical and practical foundation. Reach out to one of our representatives to find out more.