merSETA Touts Techies, Engineers as Key to SA Growth & Global Competency
The merSETA capped its colloquium on the future of manufacturing and engineering in South Africa with broad consensus that upscaling skills development and removing barriers to entry in these industries were intrinsically linked to South Africa’s objectives for industrialisation, jobcreation and the creation of transformed inclusive societies with vast socio-economic and educational opportunities. The merSETA is the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority. The gathering also noted the pressing need for South Africa to adjust its approach to training and human capital to what a vibrant economy requires and where it is moving towards. Participants in the colloquium also called for a more integrated approach towards value-of South Africa’s vast natural resources. This transpired during the Western Cape leg of the merSETA colloquium held at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town, on Wednesday 29 November 2017, which was attended by a multi-stakeholder audience comprising government representatives, captains of industry, business, academia, entrepreneurs and innovators. The gathering also called for robust policy reform to attract and enhance direct investment in manufacturing, and research and development – if South Africa is to deliver on the National Development Plan’s targeted R845 billion worth strategic infrastructure projects. It was noted that although the Western Cape had vast potential for growth in the manufacturing sector, a more inclusive plan had to be developed to ensure shared, inclusive economic growth. Dr Raymond Patel, who set the tone for the colloquium, emphasised that skills development and training should incorporate Industry 4.0, which merges the manufacturing industry and advanced technology, making the manufacturing process more interconnected and supply He said applying the concept of Industry 4.0 in the South African manufacturing clusters was essential to leapfrog increased levels of automation and digitisation. “With the shift in skills requirements comes re-training and developing the existing workforce to understand and operate the new and smart technologies. Despite the projected occupational disruptions in the wake of Industry 4.0, it is predicted to create a wide range ! " #$ increase demand for professionals able to blend digital and STEM skills with traditional subject experts,” he said, while acknowledging that these views were also espoused by Deloitte as well as the World Economic Forum. Panellist, Dr Manfred Dutchke, who is a Senior Skills Advisor seconded by the Bavarian Government under Western Cape Bavaria Partnership at Green Cape, said it was possible to create employment opportunities and improve social equity, while % risks and ecological scarcities. He said renewable energy projects that have low % inclusive and deserved to be upscaled. Dr Dutchke noted the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer’s Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) had achieved much in bringing about solar, wind and hydroelectricity projects to complement existing power generation ơ Since 2013, the construction and operation of renewable energy projects have created 111,835 job years for South African citizens. (One job for one year is “one job year.” If that job continues for another 12 months, it’s two “job years.”) “A total of 14725 MW of renewable energy have been allocated to the REIPPPP. So far 6377MW (43%) of that has been procured over six bidding rounds, and 3,029MW is operational,” Dr Dutchke said. He noted that it was imperative for the merSETA to set up an advisory department to assist and guide enterprises, in particular, SMEs, in greening their operations. One of the panellists, Patrick Lakabane, emphasised the need to streamline experiential learning with skills attainment. If this was not done, he asserted, training of artisans and like professionals would result in unemployment. Lakabane is an associate in the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) skills development initiative known as iThemba Skills Programme. Confronted with the prospects of the '() * + Lakabana said a Labour Zone Agreement was reached with stakeholders, especially workers federations, by which learners who will agree to go to the IDZ will be remunerated well above what the ơ “A group of people said they don’t want the IDZs because people’s rights would be compromised. We created a labour zone agreement and engaged labour federations on it,” he said. He said there was need to streamline the activities in rural communities, so that when one project completes, it articulates to that of the following. Through assistance from the merSETA, the IDZ has managed to bring aboard over 40 companies to participate in the skills development and learnership programme. The , 600 learners in foundational welding, fabrication, rigging, electrical, bricklaying, plumbing and carpentering skills. Vanessa Davidson the Deputy CEO of South African Maritime Institute described how South Africa stood a chance to reverse its economic growth decline by turning to a maritime nation. Vast opportunities to be exploited, she said, included boat building and maintenance, scaling up research and development as well as robustly improving skills development in the maritime industry. Davidson said employer-led solution for building a skilled workforce as well as a group training model was necessary for skills development in the marine manufacturing sector. She also advocated for creative strategies * sector support apprentices with aspirations to work in marine manufacturing. Recent research found 74% of employers in the boat building industry did not train their ơ , * % -+ - and a slowdown in production. Participants also called for improved curriculum for TVETs to give graduates educational foundation, trade theory and workshop application. They also called for commitment from employers in the private sector to train employees and empower them to train others. The colloquium stressed the need to embrace digitisation in order to conform to global trends. The need for reducing inequality in the employment sector of Engineering and Manufacturing was also emphasised.