Colleges urged to harness 4IR era
Nzimande in rallying cry to TVET sector
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande this week urged the principals of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges to move with speed to prepare the sector for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Nzimande, who was addressing the South African College Principals Organisation (Sacpo) virtual national general council meeting, said in answering challenges thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector must work with the department and other agencies of government to accelerate the pace and scope of technological innovation in the curricula of colleges to embrace the challenges of 4IR.
“Our colleges must therefore ensure that they infuse advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies in their curriculum. I have already instructed our Department of Science and Innovation to resource and fund innovation in the TVET college sector,” Nzimande said.
“If our colleges take advantage of this perfect storm of technologies brought by the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, we will continue to ensure that our colleges remain relevant and these changes will bring transformative changes in the way our colleges will attract the academic staff, students and forge futuristic relations with the business sector.”
Sacpo is made up of 50 public TVET colleges in the country. Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and Sacpo last month announced a partnership that will see TVET colleges in South Africa enrolling in the Huawei ICT Academy programme, allowing them to offer Huawei certification training online and in classrooms.
At present, there are 23 TVET colleges that have been enrolled in the programme and 200 instructors are being trained to offer Huawei-accredited courses.
Nzimande said he was worried about dwindling leadership in the TVET sector as experienced principals retire.
“We need institutional leaders who not only have a solid suite of management skills, but are highly conversant with innovation and technology...”