Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa are readying themselves to ensure their students are ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). They hope this will be achieved through the establishment of 4IR Centres of Excellence.
Ten TVET Colleges were identified by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to participate in the establishment of these 4IR centres of excellence. The centres will aim to assist learners with skills training aligned with 4IR.
The ten colleges involved in the project were funded with a combined figure of R47.9 million.
Two of the ten TVET colleges have already completed work on their 4IR centres of excellence and will deliver critical skills, training students and equipping them to thrive.
Vhembe TVET College launched its completed 4IR centre of excellence in August 2022 where learners receive training in Robotics (Bionic and Microcontrollers) Industrial Robotics; Mobile Robotics; Automation Technology; Intelligent Components; Industry 4.0 Systems; and Cyber security.
Goldfields TVET College has also launched its excellence centre in November 2022 and plans on delivering quality education and training in Cyber Security.
Four other TVET Colleges (Western TVET College, Vuselela TVET College, Lephalale TVET College and Ehlanzeni TVET College) are at least 90% complete with their centres of excellence.
The DHET revealed that Northern Cape Urban TVET College and West Coast TVET College are the two colleges furthest from completing their excellence centres. Both are approximately 25% complete.
They added that the colleges establishing these 4IR centres also applied to the DHET for approval to provide the 4IR-aligned skills training and will commence with that after approval and accreditation are granted.
The implementation of these skills training programmes is set to commence some time during the 2023 academic year. However, in the meantime, colleges have begun their staff development processes.
The establishment of 4IR centres of excellence is just the first approach by colleges to equip learners for the future. The DHET said they will also look to establish partnerships with Industry-Partnered Learning Factories, establishing academies and the establishment of ICT laboratories sponsored by Intel.
