Technology is developing at a staggering pace and the current education system has not been able to cater for all these dynamic changes and disruptive technologies. The result is that graduates completing their studies are not equipped to tackle the changes taking place in industry.
Vinesh Maharaj, Marc Van Pelt, Johan Maartens and myself recently attended the opening of the INTSIMBI Future Production Technologies Initiative (IFPTI) in Cape Town by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies. He also launched the implementation agency National Technologies Implementation Platform (NTIP).
This is an education system that is developed by industry and the DTI, while funded via a trust that scores B-BBEE points for the contributors. This model has been used successfully in other sectors and is ideally suited to address the needs of the automation industry.
This type of education system does not focus on providing the student with a formal qualification, but rather ensures that the student is adequately skilled for full-time employment in a position that is required by industry. However, they are also able to obtain a formal qualification if they so desire.
The next steps in the process are:
• To customise the current education system of the NTIP to cater for automation.
• To inform industry of the trust fund and how contributions to this fund contributes to their B-BBEE scores.
• To determine the specific education requirements of industry.
• To develop a modular training course with certificates that address the needs of industry.
• To develop a curriculum that enables students to choose modules that are required by industry and will therefore make them employable, while at the same time enabling them to achieve formal qualifications should they so desire.
The SAIMC, as the leading voice for factory and process automation, must ensure that these industries are represented effectively, and that our requirements are adequately addressed. Johan Maartens (COO and leader of the SAIMC strategic training initiative) and Marc Van Pelt (chairman of the IIG and project manager for the SAIMC Industry 4.0 strategic initiative) as well as Vinesh Maharaj (a director of the SAIMC) will be actively involved to ensure that we enable all our stakeholders to achieve excellence.
Other role players will include Professor Ralph Naidoo (Durban branch) who will oversee the new automation qualification requirements, while Jurie Weidemann (Tshwane branch) will supervise the further development of school children ready to enter the new education system.
Yours in automation,
Annemarie van Coller.
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | ina@saimc.co.za |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
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