Diploma in Textile Technology

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with detailed knowledge and skill needed in the textile industry to improve productivity and competitiveness in the local manufacturing sector. A qualified learner will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of a particular area of textile processing to the efficient running of a textile process.
• Make decisions founded in the principals of applied mathematics, science and accepted engineering practice.
• Implement sound production organisation and control measures to a textile manufacturing process.
• Apply accepted good management and business practice to a textile manufacturing process.
• Specify, evaluate and develop new textile products.

Rationale

The Diploma in Textile Technology is designed to provide learners with detailed knowledge and skill associated with industrial textile activity. This includes the industrial manufacture of textile fibres, yarns, and fabrics, as well as the colouration and finishing thereof. Learners would be able to display competence in the application of knowledge in a broad range of varied work activities associated with a career within the textile industry and its suppliers. The Textile industry has been identified as a critical area of employment for economic growth in South Africa and the government has generated a number of assistance schemes in place. This qualification will equip learners with knowledge and skill in order to contribute positively on improving competitiveness in the local manufacturing sector.

In the development process of this qualification, experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were consulted in specialist areas for appropriate content. Our ongoing relationship with the South African Dyers and Finishers Association was used to derive input. All our lecturing staff have received internationally in the United Kingdom, Iran, and Eastern Europe, and have contributed their opinions based on their experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The modular structure of this qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) possible and is applicable to all prospective candidates of the Diploma in Textile Technology, which may be achieved in part through the RPL. This includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. If the prospective candidate is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits would be assigned to the prospective candidate.

The department's RPL process will be aligned to the Durban University of Technology's (DUT) RPL Policy. The purpose of the DUT policy is to:

• Provide a framework for the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning procedures within the DUT.
• Facilitate access and admission to learning programmes within education and training and career paths.
• Accelerate redress of past unfair discrimination in education, training and employment opportunities.
• Promote and facilitate lifelong learning.
• Outline general procedures relating to the processing of RPL applications at the DUT.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission to the Diploma in Textile Technology is

• Senior Certificate (SC).

Or

• National Senior Certificate (NSC).

Or

• National Certificate Vocational (NCV); or Equivalent.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 5 and 6 totalling 360 modules.

Compulsory Modules, at NQF Level 5, 80 Credits.

• Cornerstone 101, 12 Credits.
• Information and Communication Technology Literacy and Skills, 8 Credits.
• Chemistry 1, 12 Credits.
• Physics 1, 16 Credits.
• Survey of the Textile Industry 1, 16 Credits.
• Mathematics 1, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, at NQF Level 6, 200 Credits

• Community Engagement and Development, 12 Credits.
• Textile Materials, 16 Credits.
• Yarn Technology 2, 16 Credits.
• Product Engineering 1, 16 Credits.
• Weaving Preparation, 12 Credits.
• Weaving Technology 2, 16 Credits.
• Knitting Technology, 12 Credits.
• Colouration Technology 2, 16 Credits.
• Textile Practice Research Project, 28 Credits.
• Production Organization, 8 Credits.
• Testing and statistics, 16 Credits.
• Non-Woven Technology, 12 Credits.
• Finishing Technology, 12 Credits.
• Industrial Studies, 12 Credits.
• Product Engineering 2, 12 Credits.
• Community Engagement and Development, 12 Credits.

Electives: Faculty General Education, at NQF Level 5, 12 Credits (choose one)

• Applied Science and Wellness, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Applied Sciences, 12 Credits.

Electives: Institutional General Education, at NQF Level 5, 8 Credits (choose one)

• Alternate Healing Practices, 8 Credits.
• Interpersonal Communication & Self, 8 Credits.
• Introduction to Technopreneurship, 8 Credits.
• Me, My World, My Universe, 8 Credits.
• Practical Parenting, 8 Credits.
• Reflections on Quantitative Thinking, 8 Credits.
• Values in the Workplace, 8 Credits.
• Constitutional Law and Human Rights, 8 Credits
• Cultural Diversity, 8 Credits.
• Hands Filled with Meaning, 8 Credits.
• Kwa-Zulu Natal's Maritime Heritage, 8 Credits.
• Law for Life, 8 Credits.
• Literacies through Literature, 8 Credits.
• Violence and Nonviolence, 8 Credits.
• Sustainable Earth Studies, 8 Credits.
• World of Work, 8 Credits.
• Leadership, 8 Credits.

Electives: Faculty General Education, at NQF Level 6, 12 Credits (choose one)

• Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development, 12 Credits.
• Role of Applied Science in Society, 12 Credits.

Electives: Institutional General Education, at NQF Level 6, 8 Credits (choose one)

• Alternate Healing Practices, 8 Credits.
• Interpersonal Communication and Self, 8 Credits.
• Introduction to Technopreneurship, 8 Credits.
• Me, My World, My Universe, 8 Credits.
• Practical Parenting, 8 Credits.
• Reflections on Quantitative Thinking, 8 Credits.
• Values in the Workplace, 8 Credits.
• Constitutional Law and Human Rights, 8 Credits
• Cultural Diversity, 8 Credits.
• Hands Filled with Meaning, 8 Credits.
• Kwa-Zulu Natal's Maritime Heritage, 8 Credits.
• Law for Life, 8 Credits.
• Literacies through Literature, 8 Credits.
• Violence and Nonviolence, 8 Credits.
• Sustainable Earth Studies, 8 Credits.
• World of Work, 8 Credits.
• Leadership, 8 Credits.

Electives, NQF Level 7, 28 Credits (choose one option)

Dry Option

• Weaving Technology 3, 16 Credits.
• Yarn Technology 3, 12 Credits.

Wet Option

• Colouration Technology 3, 16 Credits.
• Chemistry and Colour Physics, 12 Credits.

1. Apply knowledge of a particular area of textile processing to the efficient running of a textile process.
2. Make decisions founded in the principals of applied mathematics, science and accepted engineering practice.
3. Implement sound production organisation and control measures to a textile manufacturing process.
4. Apply accepted good management and business practice to a textile manufacturing process.
5. Specify, evaluate and develop new textile products.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Principles behind the major textile manufacturing operational stages are understood and explained.
• Operational parameters and operational rates are quantified.
• Potential limitations and problems are identified.
• Options for improvement are formulated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Appropriate data is measured and quantified.
• Numerical and statistical data is calculated and displayed in an appropriate way.
• A course of action based on accepted scientific and engineering practice is selected.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Production measuring techniques are applied appropriately.
• Calculated data is processed and translated into industry standard formats and is made communicable.
• An awareness of possible problems and misrepresentations is demonstrated.
• Lower level management decisions are made based on the outcomes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Situations in a production environment with sensitivity to applicable South African Labour Legislation are managed.
• An employment contract is evaluated and negotiated.
• Plant level industrial relation procedures are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• A vocabulary of important product parameters associated with yarns and fabrics is developed.
• Knowledge of commonly used ways by which a textile product can be modified is applied.
• Industry standard software is used to design and aid product development.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessments will combine a number of different elements and will require learners to bring together different sets of outcomes of learning into a demonstration of applied competence.

Integrated assessment will be emphasized in the Diploma in Textile Technology because it links to the notion of applied competence which is a central concern of the National Qualification Framework. Applied competence will be achieved by combining practical competence, foundational competence and reflective competence.

Integrated assessments will

• Assess a number of outcomes together using written classroom tests, and or assignments.
• Assess a number of assessment criteria together using written classroom tests, and assignments.
• In some cases use a number of assessment methods for an outcome.
• In cases acquire additional evidence from other sources such as supervisor's reports.
• Use internal moderators to validate results.