The Durban University of Technology this week (Tuesday 08, October, 2013) signed a service level agreement with the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA).
The agreement forms an addendum to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed towards the end of last year (2012) by both parties aiming to address the critical shortage of specific technical and management skills as well as research and development capacity in the water and energy sectors.
Signing the agreement on behalf of DUT was its Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ahmed Bawa and Errol Gradwell, EWSETA Chief Executive Officer signing on behalf of the training authority.
This partnership will target unemployed matriculants, pupils, students of the University as well as people from rural communities who will be exposed to the new technologies drawing on concepts of clean and renewable energy. Central to the project is the University’s Green Ride clean energy demonstration stand. The stand is fitted with various renewable energy technologies and devices in order to demonstrate the technology to people from rural areas who will undergo training as part of the partnership.
DUT’s objective in the agreement will be to expose schools and communities and proactive students to the research as well as curricula development. The University will also bring on board other stakeholders such as NGOs and FET colleges.
EWSETA will provide finance towards the project and monitor the implementation of the skills development programmes contemplated in the agreement.
Gradwell said the EWSETA recognised the importance of partnering with universities of the calibre of DUT in terms of their specific focus on renewable energy. He said for EWSETA, DUT is of strategic importance not only because it is strategically placed in terms of wind and renewable energy more generally, but because of its leadership’s level of maturity which embraces the “full family” of post-school education which includes FET colleges and SETAs.
“DUT is the hub of stimulus in this endeavor. It cements the three sectors in this project”, said Gradwell.
Prof Bawa said the University is very excited about the partnership, adding that the University looks forward to bringing other stakeholders, such as NGOs and FET colleges, on board.
– Sinegugu Ndlovu
Pictured (from left): DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ahmed Bawa and Errol Gradwell, Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) Chief Executive Officer just after signing a service level agreement which forms an addendum to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed towards the end of last year (2012) by both parties aiming to address the critical shortage of specific technical and management skills as well as research and development capacity in the water and energy sectors. The agreement was signed on Tuesday (Tuesday 08, October, 2013) at DUT.
