The Automotive Industry Development Centre, in partnership with the South African Council for Graduate Cooperative, hosted the Deputy Minister of Higher Education & Training,Honourable Mduduzi Manana  in Gauteng on 30 March 2016.

The event attracted VIP Guests, representing  SACGC, Energy SETA, UIF , The  event – endorsed the partnership between AIDC, SACGC, TETA and UIF to develop and establish Automotive Hubs through a Co-operative model which will allow graduates to apply their knowledge through supporting the Township hubs in line with the Township Revitalization, Modernization and Industrialisation Programme.

SACGC is a graduates council established in terms of the Cooperatives Act, No 14 of 2005 and the subsequent Co-operative Amendment Act, No 6 of 2013 to grow a high calibre of graduates for the advancement of graduate cooperatives as viable economic entities to fast track job creation, foreign direct investment and skills transfer to grow the economy in municipalities and rural areas. It is a council established to provide skills development, innovation, support, monitoring and evaluation as per the directives of the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 and in accordance with the mandate of the National Skills Development Strategy and any subsequent post school education and training policies in South Africa.

Mr. Thamsanqa Maqubela, Executive Chairman-SACGC in his address stated that its important to cultivate an innovative spirit, groom an entrepreneurial culture and increase the manufacturing desire amongst students with the goal to attract a critical mass of students to run sustainable and globally competitive cooperatives upon graduation.

Ms. Mkhabela, Department Manager for Skills Development and Training Department within the AIDC, emphasised the importance of Work Intergrated Learning as a means to close the gap between Theory and Practical skills. She further presented the AIDC’s artisan Development programme which will improve quality of training for the Spray Painitng and Panel Beating workforce.

According to the Deputy Minister, this visit coincides with the 2nd Human Resource Development Council Summit held at Gallager Estate, under the pertinent theme, partnership for skills - a call to action, to thresh  out mechanisms to respond to the strategic imperatives to unblock skills shortages and accordingly fashion viable solutions for these challenges. Education and skills development are very important for enhancing employability of graduates from the Technical and Vocational sector which serves as the catalyst for sharpening our capacity and to claim our stake  in this highly competitive global industrial market.

During his keynote address the Deputy Minister highlighted that in order to see changes within the various sectors; we must develop skills, inclusive of the economy. In order for us to recover as a country, we need to change systems. To strengthen industrialisation we must learn from countries like Germany and Korea and focus on Quality of training and develop programmes especially in the artisanal space. Creating a proper pipeline of talent management systems is vitally important.

One of the strategic goals of the National Development Plan is the production of 30 000 artisans by 2030, including improvement of enrolment in the TVET sector.  The theme “Partnership for Skills” - a call to action is their part to ensure strong and abiding partnerships between our TVET sector, Industry, SETAs and Civil society organisations.

“We therefore urge the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) to build partnerships with Public TVET Colleges in the Province and relevant SETAs to expand our capacity to produce artisans with relevant productive skills, responsive to requirements of a future inclusive economy, we must encourage and improve quality from basic education level and to stay focussed on improvement of maths and science, encouraging industry to turn every work place into a training space”, said the Deputy Minister. Our government had launched an Adopt a College Campaign by industry as part of our effort at ensuring that we build strong and expansive collaborative partnerships between the TVET sector and industry in order to guarantee quality and productivity from the graduates produced by the system for our economy. So far 24 colleges have been adopted and more needs to be done. 

The AIDC has highlighted that they intend hosting an open week of the Gauteng Automotive Learning Centre in 2016 with the aim of creating awareness to the public, stakeholders and Matriculants who anticipate to further their studies in the automotive sector. No date has yet been confirmed.