Owing to the challenges of Covid-19, the Southern Africa Institute of Welding (SAIW) has launched a flexible payment plan for its modularised courses, which it believes will benefit its members.

“The modularised courses, taught over four weeks, usually require upfront payment. With our flexible payment plan, instead of having to pay for the full course, students can pay for the week/s that they attend,” says SAIW Certification CEO Herman Potgieter.

He further explains that, in the past, students would enrol for the course over a one-month period and that would take up much of a person’s time.

The modularised courses now allow for more flexibility, enabling the students to complete the course over an extended period based on their availability.

The main aim is to make the courses more accessible to people in terms of time and scheduling, as well as cost and affordability, adds Potgieter.

“In addition, through PayFast and Mobicred, students now have a flexible credit system to use when paying for the course, which enables them to pay that amount back over time.”

Moreover, owing to the impact of Covid-19, SAIW offers some of its lectures live online to allow for interaction between lecturers and students.

“This has enabled students from various parts of the country to enrol in the modularised course without the need to travel to Johannesburg to physically attend courses,” Potgieter explains.

In addition, the virtual option enables students to book their courses based on their work schedules through the student management system.

Potgieter highlights that the SAIW is considering the option of offering members who are full-time employees or contractors after-hours or weekend courses.

“It is a trial that the institute plans on implementing in the second half of this year to see how it can assist members to receive the training that they require.”

The SAIW also offers a dedicated technical services division, which consists of an in-house materials testing laboratory for welding students, SAIW members and clients as well as an external on-site technical consulting service.

Further, the SAIW offers practical training, theoretical training and the International Welder Qualification Programme. Each division covers various sections such as learning how to weld, how to use welding technology, quality assurance through welding inspections and supervision, as well as international welding techniques.

The institute also offers non-destructive testing (NDT) training courses where all of the major NDT processes are covered such as Visual Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Examination and Dye-Penetrant Testing which are the most applied processes, in the South African industry. The NDT department is also internationally recognised and is registered with the International Committee for Non-Destructive Testing, which adds to the well-known credibility of courses mentioned above. It also conducts this form of testing in its in-house materials testing laboratory.

The SAIW is a founding member of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and offers courses and qualifications that are recognised in the 50-plus countries in which the IIW is active. SAIW Certification is the Approved Nominated Body of the IIW in South Africa and provides accreditation to eight Approved Training Bodies throughout South Africa where some international recognised qualifications can be acquired. This is also one of the major factors that assists South African qualified persons to take part in the global market, Potgieter concludes.