Higher Certificate in Community Development

Designed for those currently employed in the sector to enhance their knowledge, skills, and competence — enabling professional practice and effective, context-specific development strategies in the communities they serve.

Empowering practitioners. Transforming communities.

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Community Development, designed at NQF Level 5, is for those who are currently employed in the sector to enhance their knowledge, skills, and competence in order to conduct and demonstrate professional practice.

The programme equips graduates to implement effective and context-specific development strategies in the communities whom they serve — bridging theory and practice with a focus on real-world application.

Apply effective leadership and management principles in community projects

Evaluate the nature and sources of conflict, and identify and apply methods of appropriate resolution

Develop monitoring and evaluation processes and frameworks for project analysis

Discuss and evaluate different approaches to rural and urban development among poor communities

Identify key role players and resources in communities, and strategies for mobilising them

Identify and apply best practice community participation methods for specific development projects

Design and execute a practical community needs analysis leading to a project

Duration

Minimum two years, maximum three years. Study part-time while you work.

Delivery Mode

Offered in Distance Mode (as per CHE concession) — study wherever you serve.

Intakes

Two intakes per year — January and July. Apply early to secure your place.

Who this is for.

The Higher Certificate in Community Development is targeted at:

Individuals, volunteers and practitioners interested in pursuing a career in Community Development

Individuals already working in Community Development, or interested in it as a career path but who do not have a bachelor's matric pass

Anyone seeking to enhance their professional practice within the sector

Standard entry.

01 A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate Vocational (with certificate pass).

02 A Matriculation Certificate or equivalent.

03 Mature age of 45+ can be admitted, determined by the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio of evidence provided.

Charmaine Iwu

Programme Coordinator · Sociology & Community Development

Charmaine Iwu is Programme Coordinator of Sociology and Community Development, and a Lecturer at Cornerstone Institute. She holds a Master's in Education (MEd) with a focus on Teacher Education in South Africa, and previous degrees in Public Administration with a focus on Policy and Legislation. She participated in the Centre for International Teacher Education (CITE) research unit at CPUT as a student and research trainee. Her love of Mathematics and Academic Literacy, channelled through tutoring during her undergraduate and Honours studies at UWC, gave her the impetus to pursue a career in Education and Training.

Meet the Sociology staff

Fully accredited.

Registered as Cornerstone Institute (RF) NPC with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2001/HE08/006.

SAQA ID96415

NQF Level5

Reg. Cert.2001/HE08/006