The Southern African Society of Co-operative Education (SASCE) together with the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit (TLIU) have formed a three year partnership aimed at empowering students with skills while enhancing their knowledge.
TLIU is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) which is hosted and incubated at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) within the Strategic Initiatives and Implementation Unit (SIIU). TLIU was formed by DST to implement the deliverables of its Technology Localisation Plan (TLP) which include, amongst other objectives, skills enhancement and the creation of sustainable job opportunities.
SASCE is a body that has been formed by the universities of technology (UoT), universities, TVET Colleges, private colleges, organised business and labour. Its board consists of representatives from the co-operative education departments, DHET, NSA, SATN, HESA, APPETD, ETDP Seta, W&R Seta and QCTO.
Co-operative education departments at each UoT are mandated to assist students in finding placement in industry for their Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) (experiential learning). Therefore, SASCE is the advocacy body for WIL nationally and ideally positioned to implement the TLIU SETIIP.
The main objective of the TLIU SET Internship Programme is to increase the graduation rate of science and engineering students through the provision of structured practical work exposure and training opportunities. Ten universities in SA are active participants in the TLIU SETIIP. These include DUT, TUT, VUT, UJ, CPUT, CUT, NMMU, WSU, MUT and UNISA.
Students from SET-related fields of study are considered for participation in the TLIU SET Internship programme. These fields include mechanical, electronic, industrial, civil and metallurgy engineering.
Going into its second year after 107 students were placed into different technology companies around South Africa in 2014, both SASCE and TLIU have nothing but high praises about the newly formed partnership. “We have signed a three year agreement with TLIU and this is a pilot project ,” said Shakeel Ori, SASCE President and Director of the Co-operative Education unit at DUT.
The students are selected through their respective UoT’s Co-operative Education Department and placed with competitive companies that are service providers for state owned companies around South Africa. During their internship, students receive a stipend. “We have received good feedback from the companies, some even wanting to absorb the students for permanent employment after completing their P1/P2 training”,” said Busisiwe Ndlovu, Project Manager for SET Internship Programme.
Although there have been some challenges of students dropping out, Ndlovu says that they are positive that the intake of students will grow in the 2015 financial year. “We have had companies that faced a drop-out of students asking for those students back which is a clear indication that the students are producing great results,” she said.
In 2014, 107 students were recruited and placed against a target of 100 student placement in a year. Students drop outs and withdrawals impact negatively to the programme overall student intake per year. Students drop out for various reasons, including family and health related problems, finding employment and better internship opportunities elsewhere. Another problem that was identified was that students were getting more than one offer. “We are working towards resolving that, whereby we will have a system that will remove those who have already been placed from the system allowing an opportunity for other deserving students,” said Ndlovu.
For the 2015 cycle, 104 students have been placed.
Students who require more information about the TLIU SETIIP are advised to visit the DUT Co-operative Education unit, go to: https://www.dut.ac.za/cooperative_education/ or contact them on (031) 373 2657. The SASCE website (www.sasce.co.za) is currently under construction.
– Noxolo Memela
Pictured from left: Shakeel Ori, DUT Co-Operative Education unit Director; Busi Ndlovu, SET Internship Programme Project Manager and Ashley Bhugwandin, TLIU Manager.
