The Durban University of Technology (DUT) in collaboration with five campuses of the Umngungundlovu Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College joined the entire globe in celebrating the 2020 World Youth Skills Day #(WYSD2020) under the UNESCO-UNEVOC theme “Skills for a Resilient Youth in the Era of Covid19 and Beyond” on 15 July.
The world youth skills day aims to recognize the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship and to highlight the crucial role of skilled youth in addressing current and future global challenges.
The Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre & Student desk (Centre) visited Umngungundlovu TVET College campuses: Northdale, Edendale and Plessislaer on the 7th-9th of July 2020 to educate and create awareness about the significance of acquiring practical and soft skills that will assist the youth in obtaining better employment opportunities, venture into entrepreneurship and adapt to the new normal.
Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre: Business Development Officer and Community Engagement, Nomfundo Luthuli spoke to the students and advised them to seek opportunities that will advance their skills and use them to improve the livelihoods of both themselves and their communities.
The students from Umgungundlovu TVET College were elated to be part of this insightful celebration and expressed their excitement for the opportunity to learn and be provided with knowledge that will mould them into better future leaders.
Electrical infrastructure and Construction student: Northdale Campus, Mthobisi Sosibo, said the world youth skills day is crucial for young people as it empowers them and encourages them to be more developed in the courses they are currently doing. “I think it is imperative for young people to learn and be exposed to practical skills so they can create job opportunities for themselves,” said Sosibo.
Nontokozo Ngcobo, Midlands Entrepreneurship Centre Manager, emphasized that students can turn their skills into sustainable enterprises through the Entrepreneurship Centre’ s business support programs. “It is important to encourage young people to expose themselves to such opportunities to meet the new demands of changing economies, promote economic growth, and alleviate poverty,” she said.
The Centre held a virtual WYSD2020 celebration on their Facebook page on 15 July, where they discussed the importance of learning new skills to adapt to the changing global trends.
Sindisiwe Ndlovu
