You are in : Training > Training Categories > Engineering and Artisan

Skills Development

Skills transfer needed for local growth

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:31

Minister Alan Winde recently met with a select group of German companies to identify different ways in which German businesses can assist in professional training in South Africa.

A meeting of German companies took place at the office of the Tognum subsidiary MTU South Africa which was hosted by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cape Town, Hans-Werner Bussmann. The meeting was attended by special guest, Alan Winde, Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism (Western Cape Government) as well as German CEOs, MDs and businessmen from luxury hotels, NGO’s and industry.

Currently in South Africa, there is a surplus of skilled jobs available, however, a lack of skilled artisans to fill these positions. This has contributed to the country’s high unemployment rate. Realising the dire need for training within the South African labour force has resulted in a significant investment by the German business community into apprenticeship programmes which focus on skills transfer and training.

A clear example on the need to implement apprenticeship training was given by a wind generator company who import the required skilled labour as they are not available in South Africa. Through the roll-out of training programmes, it would be possible to grow the required skills, locally.

The apprentice programme is a German concept based on the dual training system – combining theory and practice. The training is facilitated by a dedicated apprentice trainer who has to ensure that each training module is covered by all apprentices. Training is guided by experienced senior artisans and qualified engineers, as well as outside vocational college courses offered by recognised educational institutions.

Minister Winde was exceedingly impressed by the existing training programmes and structure. He eagerly discussed the way forward as it ties in with the Government’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement: 2012-2015 for the country and the Province to achieve faster economic growth and higher levels of labour absorption.

“I would like to commend all the companies who have adopted and implemented the apprentice programme. The investment has made a remarkable difference to our economy, and especially to provide South Africans with the opportunity to empower themselves. We look forward to building on these strategic partnerships for a better future,” says Minister Winde.

MTU South Africa, subsidiary of the German-based Tognum Group has long acknowledged the importance of education and skills training, hence, in 2007 the Tognum subsidiary restarted their own Apprentice Programme.

As mechatronics training is urgently required in South Africa, MTU SA has offered Minister Winde to change their curriculum from diesel fitters to mechatronics. Thus, from 2012, the MTU SA curriculum will focus on mechatronics.

This shift will be in cooperation with relevant German accreditation authorities, with the aim of a full accreditation by the relevant South African authorities and a German training programme. If successful, the apprentices will receive not only a South African qualification, but also a German trade certificate.

“Thank you to MTU SA for all the effort and investment in launching and amending these initiatives to benefit our country. We are extremely grateful to the MTU headquarters in Friedrichshafen for the huge investment that has gone into launching this programme in South Africa,” Minister Winde concludes.

“We have seen great potential in South Africa, yet there is a lack of young qualified artisans. For that reason we started the apprentice programme. To date six apprentices have been fully trained by MTU SA. Starting in 2012, we look forward to increasing this by five apprentices every year,” comments Michael Baumann, MTU SA Managing Director.

On completion of the meeting, Minister Winde explored the training facilities at MTU and met with the head MTU SA trainer, James Arendse, the German trainees currently completing their apprenticeships in South Africa, as well as the local trainees who have conducted their training in Germany.