The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) has been appointed by the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Merseta) to manage research into skills demand in the metals sector.
The federation would provide a holistic view of the demand for skills and an assessment of factors affecting that demand, using both qualitative and quantitive research methodologies.
“This research will provide an improved understanding of the factors affecting demand in one of the the country’s largest industries,” said Merseta CEO Dr Raymond Patel.
Seifsa research facilitator Guy Harris added that the research outcomes would assist national and provincial government departments to identify potential blockages in achieving socioeconomic objectives, such as industrial policy initiatives and the planned infrastructure roll-out.
“Much of the success in these areas is dependent on the metals sector and, in turn, its ability to deliver is dependent on the availability of the right skills mix, particularly if job creation and localisation targets are to be met,” he told Engineering News Online.
The findings would also enable metals companies to develop focused skills development initiatives and would enable them to adapt courses, as well as their recruitment processes, to ensure it met needs in areas where there was likely to be higher demand.
“Students can also use the research outcomes to advise their subject choices,” Harris added.
The research programme was ongoing and included literary reviews, workshops and surveys targeting metals sector employers and workers.
A full research report was expected to be completed by mid-2013.