Industry academia
co-operation for skills
development
Presented by
Mookgo Mthombeni
Format of the presentation
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SW Background
Introduction
Recruitment and Employment processes
Benefits of the program
Future plans
Conclusion
SW Background
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Started 1997, rationalization of Water boards
give job experience as req by tertiary institution
curriculum
render social responsibility to communities
Create a pool for qualified & experienced individuals
Promote skills development aim at supporting EE
3 parties got into a traineeship contract & work
program agreement
Program structured – satisfy operational req as well as
academic institution
Aim of co-operation – deliver competent employees
thru skills & intimate knowledge of the field
Introduction
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Formal approach,assist process of education and
training & upliftment in general
To ensure skills development is promoted &
maintained in its operation & area of supply –
employees, students, qualified & non-qualified are
assisted with exp training thru mentorship programs.
Programs currently running:
Learnership (non-qualified)
In Service training (qualified)
Skills development (employees taken for short
courses)
Work shadow (Grade 11)
Recruitment and Employment
processes
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Students recruited,existing structures within academic
institutions
For Exp training – submit CV
For Masters candidates – letters are sent to University
Successful,offered traineeship at SW
Contract: drawn and signed,
Separate agreement: signed by SW & student reps,
detail student work & other training commitments
Benefits of the Program
Students:
• Benefits: exposure to teamwork, further personal
development & qualification
• Teamwork; development of critical thinking & problem
solving skills
• On practical level:
- On the job training; financial support, presentation
sessions, research environment, industry experts,
other treatment plants (clients & potential employers),
Benefits of the Program (continued)
Tertiary Institutions:
- Elevates training from lab scale to plant scale level
- Opportunity to follow additional skills development
courses such as safety, fire fighting etc..
- Better understanding,value & application of the study
material
- Identify practical problems in industry that require
detailed investigation to utilize as topics for research
for final year study
Benefits of the program (continued)
Industry:
 Opportunity to have input in the development & training
of its future employees
 exposure to potential employees on a trial basis
 facilitates assisted focused research by experts in
Academia on problems specific to the industry player
 Assign learners to specific problems provides an
opportunity to assign manpower with advanced
learning, at reasonable cost
Future Plans/Proposal
Proposal to introduce two-year Mentorship Program, to
be presented to ECF forum.
 Potential employees/graduates taken thru two year
training & allocated Mentors/Coaches (scarce skills)
 Mentoring to be provided by industry experts
 Aim to give guide into in depth industry dynamics
 Trainees meet after 1st year (annual conference)
- platform for freedom of expression, to share experience
& knowledge at different plants within SW regions.
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Conclusion
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Results impressive, few graduates trained
Tertiary involved: VUT, TUT, UN, NW,Unisa,Pen Tech,
Stellenbosch & Pretoria University.
Importance training & dev of future employees cant be
under estimated
Experience proved, students entering the labour
market not equipped to & capable of applying
theoretical knowledge in practice.
A win-win, every partner in collaboration reaps
benefits, joint effort & contributes to economic, social
and intellectual upliftment.
Thank you