There is a growing need to boost the number of and accelerate progress within tertiary education of young people embarking on a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) senior researcher Dr Sandile Ngcobo says.
According to recent employment statistics, there has been an increase in the unemployment rate with the most sought after skills falling under the Stem category.
As part of the drive to meet demand for Stem, Photonics Initiative of South Africa (Pisa), a programme that is fully funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the CSIR, has established a six-month experiential learning programme that currently benefits 11 students from the Tshwane University of Technology.
“The experiential learning programme came about as a result of the industrial physics course initiated by Pisa three years ago as a response to the country’s need for skilled young people in the photonics industry,” she said in a statement on Monday.
Currently, all student trainees under this initiative are assigned to an experienced scientist or researcher who is responsible for guiding and exposing each student to technical and research-based work.
Each student is also given a monthly stipend and access to an employee assistance programme, which consists of on-campus free services like financial planning, legal advice, health and counselling services.
In May, the CSIR in-service trainees will be the second group to graduate with a Diploma in Industrial Physics.