Culture and Arts Cultural Studies

Heritage Research Assistant Skills For Cultural Institutions Training

SAQA US 114515 | NQF 4 | Credits 5 | Duration 2 Days
From $832 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the practical skills needed to assist heritage researchers in cultural institutions such as museums, archives, and libraries. Participants will learn how to locate, handle, and document heritage materials while adhering to ethical and legal standards.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply basic research methodologies to locate and access heritage materials within cultural institutions.
  • Demonstrate proper handling and preservation techniques for various heritage objects and documents.
  • Analyze the ethical and legal frameworks governing access to and use of heritage resources.
  • Evaluate the accuracy and relevance of information sources for heritage research.
  • Implement systematic documentation procedures for research findings and materials used.
  • Communicate research findings effectively in written and oral formats appropriate for cultural institutions.

Target Audience

This course is designed for entry-level heritage workers, research assistants, volunteers, and interns in cultural institutions seeking to develop foundational skills in heritage research support.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Heritage Research and Documentation

Objectives:
• Understand the role and ethical responsibilities of a heritage research assistant.
• Identify types of cultural heritage resources and their significance.
• Apply basic research methods, including primary and secondary source analysis.
• Demonstrate correct procedures for documenting and cataloguing heritage items.
• Comply with relevant South African heritage legislation and institutional policies.

Topics:
• Introduction to heritage research assistantship and ethical guidelines.
• Overview of South African heritage legislation (e.g., NHRA, SAHRA).
• Types of heritage resources: tangible, intangible, movable, and immovable.
• Research methodologies: source identification, verification, and citation.
• Documentation standards: accession registers, condition reports, and metadata.
• Practical exercise: cataloguing a heritage object using standard forms.

Day 2: Advanced Research Techniques and Practical Application

Objectives:
• Conduct advanced research using digital archives and databases.
• Analyse and interpret historical data for heritage projects.
• Prepare research reports and summaries for institutional use.
• Collaborate effectively in a team-based heritage research environment.
• Develop a basic research plan for a heritage collection or site.

Topics:
• Digital research tools: online archives, databases, and GIS applications.
• Oral history techniques: interviewing, recording, and transcription ethics.
• Data analysis: cross-referencing sources and identifying gaps.
• Report writing: structure, style, and audience considerations.
• Team collaboration: roles, communication, and project management.
• Practical exercise: creating a research plan for a selected heritage collection.
• Course review and assessment.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 09 Sep 2026 Thu 10 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Thu 01 Oct 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Tue 20 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Wed 09 Dec 2026 Thu 10 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Thu 14 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Tue 16 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Tue 02 Mar 2027 Wed 03 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Thu 18 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Tue 08 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Tue 29 Jun 2027 Wed 30 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Wed 21 Jul 2027 Thu 22 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Thu 09 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Tue 28 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Wed 20 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Wed 08 Dec 2027 Thu 09 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
Thu 30 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Tue 18 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,895 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,247 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,057 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $4,217 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $4,217 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Thu 17 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Tue 06 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Tue 27 Oct 2026 Wed 28 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Thu 17 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Tue 19 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Tue 23 Feb 2027 Wed 24 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 18 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Tue 23 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Wed 16 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Wed 07 Jul 2027 Thu 08 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 29 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Tue 14 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 05 Oct 2027 Wed 06 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Wed 27 Oct 2027 Thu 28 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 16 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Tue 04 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 25 Jan 2028 Wed 26 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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