Training & Education


Automation education and training in South Africa – Part 3: Funding model

August 2019 Training & Education SAIMC

Industry, through the Manufacturing Circle, and with full support of downstream associations (PtSA, SAIMC, SACEEC, SAEEC, SASSDA, AFSA, SAIW, SAIF and others) has, through a pilot industry/government partnership – the Intsimbi Future Production Technologies Initiative – developed skills and enterprise development initiatives to meet the future needs of the manufacturing sector and solve the systemic problems faced by it in the 4IR environment.

Johan Maartens.
Johan Maartens.

Industry is in full support of scaling these as the new broad-based solutions for advanced manufacturing, but it will require a new financial partnership model to achieve meaningful results. The existing model was developed between industry (the tooling sector) and Deloitte, giving the contributors BBB-EE points through education and training, as well as assisting students to create their own businesses through access to funding from the DTI, amongst others. This is the programme that has now been adopted by the SAIMC for the automation sector.

Industry also recognises the need for the current mainstream technical education system to be sustained until it has had time to align itself with the new 4IR environment and adjusted to deliver against these new requirements and standards.

Industry further suggests that the split between the sector education and training system (SETA) and the new systemic skills and enterprise solutions as proved by the existing IFPTI initiatives (NTIP) be modelled on the following basis:

• 80% of the manufacturing sector’s SDL contribution will continue to support the mainstream education system (University, UT and TVET) as well as traditional SETA-based company support for legacy trades and qualifications (the ‘old’ system) while they develop the capacity to align with the ‘new’ systems described above.

• 20% of SDL contributions to be in support of scaling the new systemic solution-based outcomes of the IFPTI.

It has further been suggested that a 10-year roadmap be created for the convergence of the old and new systems, during which time an appropriate balance between the industry-based advanced skills delivery capacity created by the IFPTI and the silo-approach of mainstream education is reached.

It will then be possible to gradually increase SDL allocation to the new system while allocation to the old is decreased by a proportionate amount.

For more information contact Johan Maartens, SAIMC, +27 84 744 2173, [email protected], www.saimc.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Come and meet Pepper, the friendly humanoid robot
SAIMC News
Pepper, the friendly humanoid robot, is ready to welcome visitors at the SAIMC/SA Instrumentation & Control stand for an interactive glimpse into the future of robotics.

Read more...
Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Computer Engineering
SAIMC SAIMC
The SAIMC NPC is committed to the success of its members. In doing so, it continues to look for ways to advance standards in the field of automation, instrumentation, mechatronics and computer engineering.

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg March technology event was hosted by Comtest, the Fluke agent in southern Africa. The topic was Renewable Energy Resources.

Read more...
SAIMC: Secunda branch
SAIMC SAIMC
Here are some highlights from recent SAIMC Secunda meetings.

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The Durban branch March technology evening was held on 5 March at the Premier Splendid Inn, and as is always the case with Paul Sikhakhane’s presentations, it drew a large audience.

Read more...
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO: Reality check
SAIMC SAIMC
“Never have so many owed so much to so few.” This phrase is a famous quote by Winston Churchill, referring to the efforts of the Royal Air Force pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain during World War II. It highlights the immense gratitude owed to the relatively small number of pilots who played a crucial role in defending the United Kingdom from the German Luftwaffe.

Read more...
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO: Quo vadis South Africa
SAIMC SAIMC
In the nineteen hundreds, South Africa built the country while strict sanctions were in place. Control instrumentation and other computer equipment were given codes to ensure the most powerful equipment ...

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch
SAIMC SAIMC
At the SAIMC Johannesburg technical evening held on 12 February, Jozua Joubert from TANDM gave a presentation on wireless condition monitoring.

Read more...
SAIMC: A tribute to two legends
SAIMC SAIMC
Change is never easy, especially when it means saying goodbye to two valued colleagues, John Owen-Ellis and Kevin McElroy.

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The first SAIMC Durban management team meeting was held in early February, with secretary John Owen-Ellis leading the meeting for the last time before he retires.

Read more...