Overview of the Project
The Industry Training and Business Unit (ITBU) has been part of the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Faculty of Applied Sciences at DUT, since 2000. ITBU project manages and facilitates skills upliftment initiatives for the benefit of relevant sectors. The ITBU model is offered as a “One-Stop-Shop” approach, catering for comprehensive skills development needs across industry.
More than 2000 people have to date been trained through ITBU projects, amongst others in the following:
- Pattern Making
- Sewing
- Sewing Machine Mechanics
- Textile Seminars and Workshops
- Productivity
- Costing
- Quality management
- Customer Relationship Management/Service
- Health and Safety
- Entrepreneur Development
- Business Management Skills
- Coaching
- Community Engagement
Small Business and Entrepreneur Development
Focusing on New Venture Creation (NVC) projects, through training and follow-up coaching workshops, ITBU has assisted more than 150 people to establish small businesses between 2007 and 2012. Analysis showed a high percentage of those trained and coached by ITBU maintained sustainable businesses and made a dent in KZN unemployment figures. Examples such as Ntombi Luthuli (pictured above) serve as motivation to extend the reach of the programme. This small business owner completed the ITBU Business Establishment Programme in 2006, and by 2013 was employing ten people in her furniture making / decorating business in Marianhill.
Funding Requirement
Funding required for this project is R750 000. A full proposal with more details and project budget is available upon request from the Development & Alumni Relations Office.
