ESRI South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Esri South Africa (Pty) Ltd is the exclusive local distributor of Esri's ArcGIS technology in southern Africa, established in Johannesburg in 1989. It is a software and services company first; its education arm is Esri South Africa College, which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution. The head office is in Midrand, Gauteng, with further offices in Cape Town, Durban, George and Pietermaritzburg. It has more than 120 employees and more than 2000 local customers.

Esri South Africa College was founded to let individuals gain a qualification and reskill in geospatial technology, and to allow working professionals to register with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC) as geomatics practitioners. Its flagship qualification is the Diploma in Geo-information Science and Technology (GISc & T), an NQF level 6 programme of 252 credits developed in 2016 to the SAGC framework for GISc technicians under Act 19 of 2013. It is designed for part-time learners who work while studying: the minimum duration is three years and the maximum five, and full-time students can finish in two years if all 252 credits are acquired. Modules combine theory and practice, are scheduled throughout the year, and candidates can apply and register at any time.

The diploma covers information technology, geography, mathematics, statistics and physical science for GISc in year one (NQF 5), then projections and coordinate systems, spatial data models, GPS and land surveying, data quality, map design and database management in year two, and analytical methods, terrain analysis, remote sensing, programming, advanced analysis and GISc & T ethics and law in year three (NQF 6). Graduates can register with SAGC as a GISc Technician in Training, or as a GIS Technician with enough work experience, and individual modules can be completed to fill gaps for professional registration. Recognition of Prior Learning is offered.

Alongside the diploma the College runs instructor-led ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise courses at a training centre or online, self-paced and e-learning options, a Level 5 mining certificate and other short learning programmes, a skills assessment tool, and free GIS training for unemployed youth aged 18 to 30. Diploma classes are held at Esri South Africa, 113 Enterprise Avenue, Midridge Park, Midrand. The Diploma is recognised by SAGC and accredited by SAQA and the Council on Higher Education; Esri South Africa is the only Esri International Accredited Learning Centre in southern Africa.