Question NW837 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

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20 April 2017 - NW837

Profile picture: Bagraim, Mr M

Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

With regard to his reply to question 2462 on 6 December 2016, how did each international trip undertaken by management executives of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (a) directly and (b) indirectly contribute to increasing the number of beneficiaries of skills training?

Reply:

The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) responded as follows:

Namibia Trip in February 2015

Indirect benefit

  • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the World Skills South Africa (WSSA), Dr Patel, was the keynote speaker at the opening of the World Skills Expo.
  • The CEO of merSETA met with the Namibian Training Authority to discuss cooperation in the recognition of skills training in South Africa and Namibia. There are a number of manufacturing companies in Namibia who have their base in South Africa and pay the levies to the merSETA for skills training. These companies implement the merSETA programmes in both countries.

Norway and Denmark Trip in April 2015

Direct benefit

merSETA is supporting skills development at correctional services centres. The lessons learned from the visit were how youth offender programmes are structured, developed and implemented. merSETA has since implemented 8 offender rehabilitation programmes, which includes entrepreneurship. Thus far, there are more than 200 offenders enrolled. The first success indicator was that 20 offenders, who had completed, were given equipment and have started their own business.

Russia Trip in May 2015

Indirect benefit

Dr Patel was invited as the Chairperson of WSSA. The visit was aimed at examining the future skills needs of the economy as determined by the transformation of real sectors driven by major technological and social trends.

Based on identified future skills needs and new working contexts, participants also discussed new solutions in the educational ecosystem that can help reduce education training and skills development gaps. The methodology used has been shared with merSETA stakeholders and adapted for the SETA’s sector skills planning methodology.

World Skills Competition in Brazil, August 2016

Direct benefit

Twenty-two learners participated in the World Skills Competition representing SA in nineteen trades. Fifty-two other countries participated in this competition.

Indirect benefit

  • SA benefitted from benchmarking against world standards and analysis of gaps within the training and development processes.
  • The participants who participated came to understand the pressures of the world of work as well as what is required to operate on an international level. Tylers Skow was elected to represent Africa together with six other youth, forming part of an international youth council to influence and advance skills development throughout the world.

International Network on Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP) 6th International Conference in Ballarat Australia

Indirect benefit

The CEO presented a keynote address on innovative apprenticeship development. He presented a paper on the need to develop T-Shaped apprenticeships in response to the 21st century manufacturing and economy. The paper centred around the importance of curriculum change, industry involvement, response to manufacturing industry 4.0 and innovative apprenticeships instituted by merSETA in response to economic demands.

United Kingdom (UK) Trip in November 2015

Indirect benefit

Together with British UK Trade and Investment, merSETA is supporting five colleges in benchmarking standards for lecture, management development and curriculum improvement within the manufacturing and engineering space.

The CEO was a keynote speaker on addressing an international dialogue whose focus was on the impact that skills competitions have had at national level and how it meets the objectives of the South African government’s National Development Plan.

Brussels Trip in February 2016

Indirect benefit

The visit was to discuss the World Skills Strategy for the 2025 World Skills Competitions which will also benefit the participant learners from South Africa

London Trip in March 2016

Indirect benefit

The UK motor industries have developed a return on investment tool for the learners within the Retail Motor Industry space. The visit included observation of training at major retail motor training centres. merSETA has entered into an agreement with RMI (SA) and IMI (UK) to implement the return on training investment tool. merSETA has ventured into implementing the tool at sixty companies within South Africa. The project was initiated by RMI as a key stakeholder of merSETA

Bremen University, Bremen, Germany – RSA TVET Research in April 2016

Direct and Indirect benefit

The visit was aimed at exploring an approach for skills transfer on partnerships with Bremen University and integrates research topics and themes into the Higher Education Institution system in South Africa. Enterprise based training centres for artisan training and one Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) lecturer development centre was visited.

Bremen University, Bremen, Germany – RSA TVET Research in September 2016

Direct and Indirect benefit

Support sponsored PhD candidates who graduated from Bremen University. merSETA has introduced a manufacturing TVET research Master programmes with the University of the Western Cape for the Masters and PhD programmes. The PhD student is now employed by UWC to support the merSETA TVET lecturer development project for the postgraduate diploma, Masters and PhDs.

Upgrading informal Apprenticeships - The education of skilled workers in the sector of informal apprenticeship – in the tradition of Master Artisan – already in quantitative terms plays a considerable role for the employment system and the local economy.

Canada World Skills General Assembly and USA Trip in October 2016

Indirect benefit

The visit was to study the apprenticeship model used in the United States with the view of adopting best practices for the South African apprenticeship system. BMW SA has been awarded the tender to assemble the BMW X3 SUV. The technology and methodology is totally different from the current one of the BMW 3 series. As from January 2018, South Africa will be the sole assembler of BMW X3 for the entire market and learners will be trained on this latest technology.

Direct benefit

The merSETA delegation visited the Urban Institute of Research and American Institute for Innovative Apprenticeship to engage on the 21st century apprenticeship programme. merSETA was given various curricula to use as a benchmark for the development of the South African qualification relating to apprenticeship at no cost.

World Manufacturing Forum (WMF) in May 2016, Barcelona, Spain

Indirect benefit

This is the only event that explores industry megatrends and provides high-level networking opportunities. The participants from large multinationals, small to medium sized enterprises and academic leaders discussed policy, economic, social, and technical challenges that influence the global manufacturing industry. The Department of Science and Technology held post WMF feedback sessions in which members of the delegation have reflected resulting in some concrete ideas to take forward some of the learning from the WMF.

Brussels Trip in February 2016

Indirect benefit

Dr. Patel was invited in his capacity as Chairperson of WSSA to discuss the strategy for World Skills 2025. He facilitated the two-day session on developing the strategy for World Skills 2025, which was to be presented at the World Skills general assembly in Canada in October 2016.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

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DIRECTOR – GENERAL

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QUESTION 837 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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