In an exemplary portrayal of a public private partnership that really benefits South Africans at a grass roots level, instrumentation specialist Endress+Hauser is looking at building a fully functional Profibus PA plant for the Tshwane South College's West Campus.
Having already donated the equipment used by the Tshwane South Training Institute, the company now intends building a brand new facility that will represent every principle of operation of field instrumentation, allowing students practical exposure to process conditions.
"This initiative is just an extension of our existing involvement in supporting technical trainees from previously disadvantaged sectors of the community," reports Endress+Hauser service manager, Nico Marneweck. "Not only has our two year accreditation as an experiential partner by the Witwatersrand Technikon been renewed, but we have also entered into a similar partnership with Vaal Technikon."
(L-to-R) Wisdom Ramavhulela, Nico Marneweck, Lettie Mbatla and Lindani Mashapa
Although there are slight technical differences in the approach of the educational institutions, Endress+Hauser's experiential training programme offers entrants the opportunity of spending six months at a time as part of the company's service department, thereby gaining not only invaluable practical experience, but also sharing in the company's global knowledge pool. Lita Mpahlwa, the first student to enter this programme, is today employed as a full time technician for Endress+Hauser. Encouraged by this success, the company decided to increase the capacity of its programme. This year, the company is tutoring Lettie Mbatla and Lindani Mashapa from Vaal Technikon, Wisdom Ramavhulela from Wits, Jason Murugas from Durban Technical College and Paul Damons from the Peninsula Technikon.
"Even though Wisdom has completed his two terms with us, his dedication is so impressive that we have decided to increase his allowance and continue training him at a higher level," says Marneweck. "We are also proud of the fact that Lettie is the first female process automation technician to enter this programme. This incredible combination of students has certainly raised the level of competition within the programme."
"This brings to an end the days when technical trainees were nothing more than tool carriers for their superiors," Wisdom reminisces. "Here you very quickly become a part of the company, of the team, and you are able to turn theory into experience."
"Because we also get exposed to the admin and sales side of the service business, we should leave here well-rounded, highly employable technicians," adds Lindani.
Now ranging from N6 to B-Tech and even BSc Engineering students, the Endress+Hauser experiential training initiative is sure to lay the foundation for the consistant supply of world class technicians, ready to enter into the local marketplace.
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