Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Swiss partnership boosts skills development

The 16 Umfolozi College students who will benefit from the new SSACI partnership, pictured here with Umfolozi College, Bell Equipment, and Mondi Richards Bay mill representatives: (in no order) Training Manager for Mondi Richards Bay mill - Mthokozisi Nkonyane, Training Manager Bell Equipment - Sinothando Gumede, Nokuthula Khambule, Mnasor Bilal, Mthokozisi Dube, Brian Manners, Nkululeko Khumalo, Emanuel Thanjekwayo, Nkosinomusa Ncube, Justin Govender, Sanele Ntuli, Campus Manager Sarie Saayman, Londiwe Mkhize, Nompumelelo Mthethwa, Bell Training Manager - Carole Hills, Senzo Mthethwa, Dinegram Naicker and Preslyn Naidoo

Local industry will enable 16 students from Umfolozi College to embark on a valuable six month practical internship programme. This new initiative has been made possible by the Swiss-South African Co-operation Initiative (SSACI), the Umfolozi College Richtek Campus, the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education And Training Authority (MERSETA) and local industries, including Bell Equipment, Exxaro and the Mondi South Africa division. The Electrical Infrastructure Construction and Engineering and Related Design NC(V) students will be monitored and evaluated over the duration of the project. Evaluations will focus on work habits and attitudes, as well as the acquisition of competency. The internship model calls for the interns to be rotated in the various departments or sections of the organisation to enable them to understand overall workflow processes. Previously students have benefitted from a three year pilot programme launched by SSACI, Umfolozi College and various local industries. At the close of the pilot phase, the college took over the project and is currently expanding it to other campuses in the Umfolozi College family. Campus Manager Sarie Saayman thanked all the parties involved for their co-operation. ‘Together we can build a competent, skilled workforce in Richards Bay.’