Bachelor of Ecotourism and Protected Areas Management Honours

Description of the Qualification

The Bachelor of Ecotourism and Protected Areas Management Honours degree qualification is developed to provide students with the opportunity to establish a strong, specific knowledge base in nature- based tourism as a tool for economic growth and development of a country destination. Namibia has, under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, a Community based natural resource management (CBNRM) program that creates an environment where people in communal areas can actively manage their ecosystems. Secondly, the market for nature-based tourism locally and globally is growing rapidly, which not only presents enormous opportunities for entrepreneurship, protected area management and sustainable development but also introduces the potential for unacceptable impacts to the natural resources at the foundation of the tourism product.

The qualification therefore provides students with required theory and hands on approach in ecotourism, cultural heritage tourism management, nature conservation, and community-based resource management, sustainable tourism management of the tourism resources to ensure sustainable growth of the tourism, hospitality and events industry including in protected areas. It was developed to address key need for sustainable tourism resource use with focus on:

• Providing opportunities for economic advancement through meaningful public and private partnerships
• Enhancing quality of life of locals through working especially with formerly disadvantaged part of our society and
• Welcoming tourists to the country and delivering exceptional, unforgettable service and holidays while protection of natural and cultural heritage is of prime concern.

Namibia ranks among the top nature-based tourism destinations regionally, in Africa and globally, hence the development of this qualification is one of the destination marketing tools there is: exceptional quality service in a natural and sustainably managed environment that will ensure that tourists come back a second time, tell their friends and share their experiences.

The Namibia vision as captured in the National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy 2016-2026 for tourism is for a growing, vigorous and dynamic economic sector that brings social and economic benefits to all Namibians via the generation of jobs and incomes. This qualification therefore fulfills the Government call on private public partnerships, where the IUM in consultation with various stakeholders, engenders human capacity development to ensure vision will be met where Namibia is to be a role model in the conservation of biological diversity, environmental management and tourism development through innovation and partnerships.

Finally, it is for tourism in Namibia to contribute meaningfully to rural development and overall economic growth via the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources. Incorporating programs such as CBNRM in tertiary level training of local and international students is an important instrument to promote sound environmental management, and the sustainable use of natural resources, in a manner which empowers local communities to share the responsibilities and benefits from such management. The qualification will look at the ethical aspect of sustainable management of Community Forests, shared water and other natural resources as well as Communal Conservancies.

The qualification has been designed to provide a pathway through which students aspiring to enter the sector of nature-based tourism in Namibia, the SADC region and Africa at large can develop a combination of key sustainable, eco-friendly business skills and industry knowledge in this sensitive ecotourism and protected areas management. This qualification will prepare the students for the varied and demanding careers through which the tourism and the environment industry offer. This qualification therefore focuses on the current demand of the ecotourism and protected area management sector.

Admission/Entry requirements

Students will be admitted into this qualification if they hold a Namibia Secondary School Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) or equivalent, with a minimum of 25 points in five (5) best subjects, with a minimum of D in English at NSSCO/ IGCSE level, Grade 1-4 at the NSSCH/ HIGCSE level and at least an E symbol at NSSCAS level.

Students may also enter through mature age, if they meet the following requirements:

• Are 25 years old or over in the year in which admission is sought.
• Have at least 2 years relevant working experience.
• Have at least a pass at Grade 10.
• Provide a suitable reference relating to work experience.

Prospective applicants should pass the entry Aptitude Test of IUM. If in possession of a foreign qualification, submit an NQA Evaluation report of their foreign qualifications to the IUM for consideration. The Bachelor of Ecotourism and Protected Areas Management Honours degree grants admission to a Master of Science in Ecotourism and Protected Areas Management and/or any related qualification at NQF Level 9.

Career opportunities

This qualification is designed for individuals interested in a range of work sectors related to tourism, the environment and all forms of conservation and sustainable management of protected areas. This qualification has been developed with the above in mind, and therefore targets the following students who want to become Conservationists, Protected Area Managers, Research Assistants, Environmental Health Supervisors, Tour Guides, Project Managers, Environmental Campaigners/ Lobbyists, Cultural Ambassadors, Game rangers, Tour operators, Service Agents, Natural Resource Managers and Wildlife and Parks Managers / Administrators.

Qualification Structure