Invest in a sun jar as a night light in your child’s bedroom, or in the bathroom, rather than leaving a light on all night. A sun jar contains a solar power cell, a rechargeable battery and an LED light (the battery lasts between three and four hours). The cell charges in the sun during the day and the light switches on automatically when it gets dark. Sun jars also make atmospheric outdoor lights as they are fully weatherproofed.
Source: enviropaedia.com
Tags: solar power, sunjar
DISCOVER YOUR UNIQUE TALENT AND DEVELOP
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The training is dynamic, practical and inspiring.
All the classes are Individual, one on one.
All the courses are part-time.
If You like to peruse Fashion Design as a Business and a Career,
Choose the first Course “Fashion Design Course”.
If You are interested in Fashion as a hobby and want to learn how make
your own clothes, Chose the second Course “Easy Fashion Course”.
The Course “Couture and Avantgarde” can only be booked
after completing the first proper “Fashion Design Course”.
The “Fashion Branding Course” presents the business study of
Conceptualizing and Executing your own Fashion Label.
International students are welcome!
All of the Courses are also available via Distance Training!
Tags: avantgarde, couture, design, fashion
One of Dr Blade Nzimande’s first moves as South Africa’s new Minister of Higher Education and Training was to institute a review of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, a step that heralded his concern with ongoing inequalities in the system and his intention to widen access to higher education for the country’s poorest, mainly black students. It was also a sign that he intends to honour the African National Congress’ election manifesto commitment to begin the process of providing free undergraduate study to financially needy students.
As Secretary General of the South African Communist Party, Nzimande is no stranger to being guided by political ideology and his discourse frequently reflects his revolutionary roots and his keen sense of a constituency.
To delegates at a December 2009 South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) gathering, Nzimande described the higher education and training system as a reflection of “deeply interrelated contradictions of class, race and gender”, as well as “a key terrain” upon which to confront these contradictions.
Dr Blade Nzimande
Political rhetoric aside, Nzimande’s knowledge of this “key terrain” is not to be under-estimated. He has played a significant role in reshaping the apartheid-era education system, starting with his work in the late 1980s and early 1990s at the Education Policy Unit based at the then University of Natal. After the first democratic elections in 1994, Nzimande moved to Parliament where he was head of the select committee on education.
Now at the helm of a new department which amalgamates the government’s entire skills development function together with universities, universities of technology and vocationally-oriented further education and training (FET) colleges, Nzimande says his core mandate is to create a “coherent but diverse and differentiated post-school education and training programme” anchored within the framework of a newly-adopted national human resource development strategy (HRD-SA) administered by his department.
Significant expansion of the post-school sector is on the cards to cater for the 2.8 million or more 18 to 24-year-olds which research funded by the Ford Foundation shows are neither employed nor in any formal education or training programmes.
While Nzimande sees access to universities increasing to some extent, most of the growth is set to happen in the FET sector, although the creation of new universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape is also on the cards. In recent weeks, Nzimande has said he expects enrolment in the country’s 50 FET colleges to double in the next five years and institutional audits are planned for all of them, aimed at improving quality.
“Universities are only one of the post-school education and training options,” he said on 13 January, shortly after the announcement of the 2009 school-leaving examination results, which saw a disappointing 2% decline in the overall pass rate. “We believe that colleges must become institutions of choice and will play a critical role in preparing young people for economic participation.”
Despite the emphasis on growing and improving FET colleges, ministerial adviser John Pampallis said universities remain “very important”, particularly in terms of their role in expanding opportunities for the higher education sector as a whole. He told University World News the department would be looking at ways to help universities to improve their throughput rates.
Since assuming office over eight months ago, however, Nzimande’s major focus on universities has tended towards issues of equity and transformation. Transformation of these institutions is “non-negotiable”, he says, and concepts of academic freedom and institutional autonomy cannot be used to frustrate transformation.
A higher education summit is planned for April, at which the idea of a transformation monitoring group will be mooted. Pampallis said the summit would take a wide-ranging look at transformation, focusing not only on issues of equity and discrimination but also on governance and curriculum development.
The minister is also concerned, he said, about the poor performance of university institutional forums mandated by the Higher Education Act of 1997 to advise university councils on a range of issues relating mainly to transformation.
The focus on equity has been noted by Dr Nico Cloete, Director of the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (Chet), a non-governmental organisation aimed at increasing transformation management skills in higher education.
Cloete said he is concerned by what he called the department’s “back-to-1994″ approach, which largely conceived of higher education as a tool for redress rather than as a critical agent for development.
“Rather than talking about national development and the positive role of higher education in development, they are seeing higher education merely as an instrument for achieving equity and democracy,” he said.
Cloete said there had been very little encouragement for and support of the activities of successful research-led universities. “What [the minister] is not talking about is research at top-end universities. Rather, these institutions get criticised for not admitting enough black, poor students and for not being democratic enough,” he said.
Compared with his predecessor Naledi Pandor, Nzimande’s approach to transformation is a matter of emphasis rather than principle, according to Pampallis. “His tenure comes in the wake of the Soudien report and he [Nzimande] has a different political history and constituency,” he said.
Commissioned by Pandor and published in May last year – the same month as Nzimande’s appointment as minister – the so-called Soudien report, prompted by a racist incident at the University of the Free State and produced by a committee chaired by University of Cape Town education professor Crain Soudien, exposed the persistence of racism and other discrimination on South African campuses. The new minister had little option but to take the matter further.
Naledi Pandor
But Nzimande’s concern with access and participation rates is also evident in his proposal for a central applications system for higher education institutions and he has indicated he intends to meet with a range of professional bodies to talk about how to improve the numbers of black students entering professions such as accountancy and engineering.
In the face of some fears of a centralising tendency emanating from the ministry, Pampallis said there would be no day-to-day interference in the running of institutions and government’s main instrument for influencing universities would likely be funding. “It’s the minister’s job to intervene, but it will be largely at the level of policy and there will be engagement with vice-chancellors and stakeholders,” he said.
Pampallis admitted that Nzimande’s SACP ties raised fears from certain quarters. This was evident when, amid concern from the official opposition Democratic Alliance, the minister announced his intention to review the current higher education funding formula, which he said perpetuates “apartheid-type inequalities in higher education”, maintaining privilege in some institutions and keeping others perpetually disadvantaged.
But such thorough-going changes require people with expertise. For Cloete, a question mark hangs over the department’s overall capacity to execute what is clearly a highly ambitious reform-oriented agenda, particularly in the wake of a recent exodus of senior staff.
“The minister is moving towards redress and enormous expansion of the sector, but he’s put together a department without the skills or experience to support these plans,” he said.
Cloete said this shortage of senior-level skills could frustrate the department’s ambitions to steer the sector by means of a new funding formula. “As soon as you move away from standard formulas, you need capacity to implement and review these procedures. Increased steering, for example, could be seen to pose a threat to autonomy but it could also constitute a threat to the capacity to steer.”
Double-edged swords notwithstanding, higher education watchers are in for an interesting ride over the next four years.
Source: universityworldnews.com, info.gov.za
* About 44 percent of inspectors worked for local governments, primarily municipal or county building departments.
* Many home inspectors are self-employed.
* Training requirements vary widely; some States require a license or certificate.
* Opportunities should be best for those with construction-related work experience; training in engineering, architecture, construction technology, or related fields; or certification as a construction inspector.
Construction and building inspectors examine buildings, highways and streets, sewer and water systems, dams, bridges, and other structures. They ensure that their construction, alteration, or repair complies with building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications. Building codes and standards are the primary means by which building construction is regulated in the United States for the health and safety of the general public. National model building and construction codes are published by the International Code Council (ICC), although many localities have additional ordinances and codes that modify or add to the National model codes. To monitor compliance with regulations, inspectors make an initial inspection during the first phase of construction and follow up with further inspections throughout the construction project. However, no inspection is ever exactly the same. In areas where certain types of severe weather or natural disasters—such as earthquakes or hurricanes—are more common, inspectors monitor compliance with additional safety regulations designed to protect structures and occupants during those events.
There are many types of inspectors. Building inspectors inspect the structural quality and general safety of buildings. Some specialize in for example, structural steel or reinforced-concrete structures. Before construction begins, plan examiners determine whether the plans for the building or other structure comply with building codes and whether they are suited to the engineering and environmental demands of the building site. To inspect the condition of the soil and the positioning and depth of the footings, inspectors visit the worksite before the foundation is poured. Later, they return to the site to inspect the foundation after it has been completed. The size and type of structure, as well as the rate at which it proceeds toward completion, determine the number of other site visits they must make. Upon completion of the project, they make a final, comprehensive inspection.
In addition to structural characteristics, a primary concern of building inspectors is fire safety. They inspect structures’ fire sprinklers, alarms, smoke control systems, and fire exits. Inspectors assess the type of construction, the building’s contents, adequacy of fire protection equipment, and any risks posed by adjoining buildings.
Electrical inspectors examine the installation of electrical systems and equipment to ensure that they function properly and comply with electrical codes and standards. They visit worksites to inspect new and existing sound and security systems, wiring, lighting, motors, and generating equipment. They also inspect the installation of the electrical wiring for heating and air-conditioning systems, appliances, and other components.
Elevator inspectors examine lifting and conveying devices such as elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, lifts and hoists, inclined railways, ski lifts, and amusement rides.
Home inspectors conduct inspections of newly built or previously owned homes, condominiums, town homes, manufactured homes, apartments, and commercial buildings. Home inspection has become a standard practice in the home-purchasing process. Home inspectors are most often hired by prospective home buyers to inspect and report on the condition of a home’s systems, components, and structure. Although they look for and report violations of building codes, they do not have the power to enforce compliance with the codes. Typically, they are hired either immediately prior to a purchase offer on a home or as a contingency to a sales contract. In addition to examining structural quality, home inspectors inspect all home systems and features, including roofing as well as the exterior, attached garage or carport, foundation, interior, plumbing, and electrical, heating, and cooling systems. Some home inspections are done for homeowners who want an evaluation of their home’s condition, for example, prior to putting the home on the market or as a way to diagnose problems.
Mechanical inspectors examine the installation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and equipment to insure they are installed and function properly. This may include the inspection of commercial kitchen equipment, gas-fired appliances, and boilers.
Plumbing inspectors examine the installation of piping systems to insure the safety and health of the drinking water system, chemical process piping for industrial uses, and the sanitary disposal of waste. On most construction sites this will involve at least three inspections, including the piping layout, venting, backflow protection, and setting of fixtures.
Public works inspectors ensure that Federal, State, and local government water and sewer system, highway, street, bridge, and dam construction conforms to detailed contract specifications. They inspect excavation and fill operations, the placement of forms for concrete, concrete mixing and pouring, asphalt paving, and grading operations. They record the work and materials used so that contract payments can be calculated. Public works inspectors may specialize in highways, structural steel, reinforced concrete, or ditches. Others specialize in dredging operations required for bridges and dams or for harbors.
The owner of a building or structure under construction employs specification inspectors to ensure that work is done according to design specifications. Specification inspectors represent the owner’s interests, not those of the general public. Insurance companies and financial institutions also may use their services.
Details concerning construction projects, building and occupancy permits, and other documentation generally are stored on computers so that they can easily be retrieved and updated. For example, inspectors may use laptop computers to record their findings while inspecting a site. Most inspectors use computers to help them monitor the status of construction inspection activities and keep track of permits issued, and some can access all construction and building codes from their computers on the job site, decreasing the need for paper binders. However, many inspectors continue to use a paper checklist to detail their findings.
Although inspections are primarily visual, inspectors may use tape measures, survey instruments, metering devices, and equipment such as concrete strength measurers. They keep a log of their work, take photographs, and file reports. Many inspectors also use laptops or other portable electronic devices onsite to facilitate the accuracy of their written reports, as well as e-mail and fax machines to send out the results. If necessary, they act on their findings. For example, government and construction inspectors notify the construction contractor, superintendent, or supervisor when they discover a violation of a code or ordinance or something that does not comply with the contract specifications or approved plans. If the problem is not corrected within a reasonable or otherwise specified period, government inspectors have authority to issue a “stop-work” order.
Many inspectors also investigate construction or alterations being done without proper permits. Inspectors who are employees of municipalities enforce laws pertaining to the proper design, construction, and use of buildings. They direct violators of permit laws to obtain permits and to submit to inspection.
Construction and building inspectors usually work alone. However, several may be assigned to large, complex projects, particularly because inspectors tend to specialize in different areas of construction. Although they spend considerable time inspecting construction worksites, inspectors also spend time in a field office reviewing blueprints, answering letters or telephone calls, writing reports, and scheduling inspections.
Many construction sites are dirty and may be cluttered with tools, materials, or debris. Inspectors may have to climb ladders or many flights of stairs or crawl around in tight spaces. Although their work generally is not considered hazardous, inspectors, like other construction workers, wear hardhats and adhere to other safety requirements while at a construction site.
Inspectors normally work regular hours. However, they may work additional hours during periods when a lot of construction is taking place. Also, if an accident occurs at a construction site, inspectors must respond immediately and may work additional hours to complete their report. Non-government inspectors—especially those who are self-employed—may have a varied work schedule, at times working evenings and weekends.
Source: bls.gov, elcivics.com, channel4.com, sanjoseca.gov, saskatoon.ca, citytowninfo.com
Tags: building inspectors, Career Advice, construction inspectors
Reiki training is a very intense and personal experience. This is why it is best to meet your Reiki Master first, and see how you feel about them. In addition, Reiki training can be very deep and transformational.
If you have already trained in Reiki as an energy healing modality, you need to continue with your self-development, discovery and growth. Reiki is not about reading books or listening to seminars. It is about experiencing and developing.
With this in mind, we now have a regular monthly Reiki and Healing Share in Cape Town CBD on a weekday evening. All are welcome, whether this is the first time you hear of Reiki or if you are an experienced Reiki Master. Payment is a modest donation of what you can afford (usually R50-100), and you enjoy an evening of discovery and growth. This way you will get to know us better, develop your skills, or just enjoy the evening and have fun.
