Learners studying for an engineering diploma at a technikon are required to undergo two six-month periods of practical experience by working for a company in the engineering industry.

Up to now learners have had difficulty in finding companies who would provide them with this experiential training. The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Education Training Authority (Merseta) has moved to correct this situation by offering employers a R10 000 grant for each six-month period (semester) for which they employ a technikon engineering diploma student.

The grant is conditional on the company paying its skills development levy to Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) 17 and verifying that the learner is a bona fide diploma student.

As a public service, Engineering News invites technikon students seeking experiential training to submit their names, contact details, engineering discipline and location in which they require training for inclusion in future copies of the publication. To date we have received enquiries from the following learners:  Ntsako Ngonyama, candy@explolabs.co.za, mechanical engineering, Gauteng  Joseph Lengoasa (072) 564 0579, mechanical engineering, Vaal Triangle  Amon Mothabeng (014) 543 4230, electrical engineering, Gauteng  Aubrey Azwinndini (084) 361 4155, mechanical engineering, Northern Gauteng.

Students who wish to have their names published should contact the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Council of South Africa at Tel: (011) 455-1451 (mornings only) or e-mail acricsa@global.co.za.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.