Engineering News

Petrochemicals giant Sasol, through the Sasol Inzalo Foundation, is, this week, hosting a three-day inaugural symposium on the role of technical schools in South Africa at the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark.
 
The conference, which starts on August 16, will bring together 150 educators, trainers, principals and heads of departments of technical and vocational education training institutions and universities, and policy-makers to discuss growing a pipeline of artisans for the country. 
 
In terms of the National Development Plan’s Vision 2030, South Africa needs to produce at least 30 000 artisans a year by 2030, an increase from the 13 000 artisans it currently produces, to stimulate economic growth and enable the country to remain competitive.
 
“To this end, Sasol, through the Sasol Inzalo Foundation, initiated a programme to build a Technical Schools of Excellence Network (TechSENet), which will contribute to the development of the required pipeline of vocational skills for the country,” says Sasol Inzalo Foundation director Dr Mapitso Molefe.
 
Among the objectives of the TechSENet programme is to stimulate interest in technical subjects and careers among learners.
 
The conference coincides with Sasol’s flagship science, technology, engineering and mathematics career guidance exhibition Sasol Techno X, which attracts more than 20 000 learners from across the country every year and is being held in Sasolburg, in the Free State, from August 15 to 18.