The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Faculty of Accounting and Informatics recently hosted an engagement meeting with delegates from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) from across Africa, aimed at strengthening collaboration in skills development and workforce readiness.
The engagement brought together faculty leadership, academic staff, and SETA representatives to discuss curriculum relevance, graduate employability, and the alignment of higher education qualifications with sector-specific skills needs. The discussions also explored the impact of technological change and shifting economic conditions on skills development across the continent.
Welcoming the delegates, Professor Naicker emphasized the importance of sustained partnerships between universities, government, and skills development bodies.
“Universities cannot operate in isolation from the skills ecosystem,” Prof Naicker said. “Engagements of this nature are critical to ensuring that academic programmes remain responsive, relevant, and aligned with the evolving needs of industry and society.”
Prof Olugbara highlighted the faculty’s commitment to producing graduates who are both academically strong and workplace-ready, noting that practical, future-focused skills are central to student success in a rapidly changing economy.
Key focus areas included expanding student placement opportunities, strengthening collaboration in research and innovation, and enhancing capacity‑building initiatives. The role of SETAs in supporting students through bursaries, internships, and workplace exposure was recognised as a key driver of effective skills development.
The participation of SETA delegates from across Africa enabled the sharing of best practices, common challenges, and innovative approaches to skills development within diverse socio‑economic contexts.
Concluding the engagement, Prof Naicker expressed appreciation for the constructive dialogue and reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to translating discussions into meaningful partnerships that benefit students, industry, and society.
Pictured: DHET and 21 SETA delegates at the engagement meeting.
Photographer: Sibonelo Dlamini
