The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), as the largest contact university of technology in South Africa, is a key part of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s objective to use these institutions to train lecturers for technical colleges in South Africa.

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande says that TUT is in partnerships with more than 20 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and will support these colleges through direct academic and managerial assistance.

These partnerships are intended to produce a direct academic route for those who successfully completed a qualification at a TVET college, such as those who attain National Qualifications Framework Level 6 qualifications, to further their education at universities of technology.

These partnerships are a result of government’s goal to improve skills, especially among the youth. As there is a shortage of lecturers at TVET colleges, government further aims to use these partnerships to produce sufficient lecturers.

“We expect the universities of technology to help create a more articulated route between college qualifications and universities of technology, including the recognition of prior learning to boost the development of highly qualified technologists in disciplines where there are significant shortages, such as engineering, information technology and management, as well as in other disciplines,” says Nzimande.

This will also help to boost the availability of skilled people in industry, government and the private sector, who can transfer their knowledge to youth attending TVET colleges or serve as lecturers at universities of technology or create knowledge as research assistants and researchers.

“The TUT plays an important role in supporting the drive by government to provide all youth with the opportunity to gain higher education qualifications. In the case of indigent students, the aim is to provide them with financial aid until they receive their first degree or technical diploma, as long as they do not fail.”

Nzimande adds that the TUT is emerging from a challenging period and he is cognisant of the challenges it still faces, but is satisfied with the plans and progress made to address them.

Former Walter Sisulu University vice chancellor Professor Lourens van Staden is the current acting vice chancellor of TUT and his directive is to help improve the functioning of TUT in line with government’s goals.

“The size of our student corps is significant and we anticipate that a total of about 56 000 students will enrol this year,” he said, adding that only 15 000 first-year students can be accommodated, but that 90 000 applications for first-year studies had been received.

Meanwhile, Nzimande indicates that attendance of lectures is crucial and valuable for students. Low attendance is one of the areas on which the TUT must focus its interventions.

“The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has helped about 1.5-million historically disadvantaged students since it was established and has helped to grow the black middle class. The total NSFAS budget for 2015 is R9.6-billion.

“Students must appreciate the support and funding given to them by the State and must attend their lectures.”

Nzimande visited TUT last month and spoke to representatives of all the structures of the institution, including the executive committee, student council representatives and staff unions.