TVET students off to learn in China
TEN Lovedale College students have left the country for China to embark on a one-year exchange programme to gain practical work experience.
The first three students left last month and the others on Friday last week.
The exchange programme is part of the Energy and Water Sector Seta (EWseta), in partnership with the China Culture and International Education Exchange Centre, which offers a fully funded exchange programme aimed at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College students.
The programme aims to promote investment opportunities in South Africa, support job creation, expose TVET students to international standards, enhance their work ethic in order for them to become global citizens and to provide them with a competitive advantage by exposing them to international machinery which will help them to showcase their talents during World Skills competitions.
The students, who were selected based on their results, have completed their national N3 qualifications in electrical engineering and waste water treatment practice, offered at Lovedale’s Zwelitsha campus.
Lovedale TVET College, based in King William’s Town, was one of 15 TVET Colleges in South Africa which were selected.
The other Eastern Cape TVET college that was selected is Eastcape Midlands, which has eight students joining the programme.
The Chinese exchange programme will complement the students’ studies with work-integrated learning methodology.
The students’ internships will involve both working and learning – students will be based at top Chinese manufacturing companies while studying at Chinese universities and colleges.
The students will also receive monthly stipends while working.
Upon completion of the programme, the students will be awarded with an internationally recognised qualification.
The college’s partnerships and skills unit manager, Lizeka Skosani said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to broaden the learning experience of our students within an international context.”
One of the students, Yolanda Keuti, who studied electrical engineering, said it was an opportunity of a lifetime.
“Words cannot express what this opportunity means to me. I will not only gain valuable work experience, but I will be able to experience Chinese food, culture and language.”