Skills for
Employability: the
Project
Remo Chipatiso
Head: Education & Society
International Skills Partnership Conference, South Africa 2014
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South African Context
The shortage of skilled labour in South Africa is one of the most
challenging socio-economic issues which need to be addressed. The
skills development challenges South Africa faces are complex and
span across numerous industries and skill levels.
Deloitte: Skills Development, developing people for the future of
Business
 The South African government is giving skills shortages
considerable attention however; skill shortages are still very real
in South Africa today.
 There have been a number of policy developments in South
Africa pre and post 2009.
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Key Policy Developments
 New Growth Path, 2009
 National Skills Development Strategy III, 2011
 National Skills Accord, 2011
 National Development Plan (NDP), 2012
 Industrial Policy Action Plan, 2014/15
 Human Resource Development Plan, 2014
 White Paper on Post-school Education and Training, 2014
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Skills for Employability
Its purpose is to enhance quality of skills systems by encouraging
closer links between education, employers and policy makers in
the UK and worldwide. The global goal of SfE is to enhance UK
leadership of, and shared learning from international education.
This will be achieved through
 higher quality skills development including vocational
and higher technical education and training,
 professional education and enterprise skills training
that meets industry needs and helps young people
prosper.
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SfE Global Framework
There are 7 outcomes that SfE seeks to achieve. This framework is
loosely implemented by various countries and they hardly focus on
all the outcomes.
Active network of local and global employers, employer
representative organisations and other skills stakeholders
established
Improved knowledge and understanding of effective approaches to
skills development
Young people better prepared for the world of work and enterprise
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SfE Global Framework continued
Increased understanding and recognition of the benefits of working
internationally and how to do this effectively
New approaches to skills development implemented at
institution/organization level
Policy changes and/or new approaches to skills development
implemented at national and/or system level
Higher quality skills development that meets industry needs
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Global Picture
Skills for Employability 14/15
South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Bangladesh
Pakistan
India
South Africa
European Union
Spain
Americas
Brasil
Colombia
Italy
Middle East and North Africa
Bahrain
Mexico
Iraq
Trinidad and Tobago
Kuwait
Jamaica
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
UAE
East Asia
Vietnam
China
Myanmar
Indonesia
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Yemen
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Oman
Jordan
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SfE in South Africa
Alignment
Speaks to Commitment 2 and 8 of the Skills Accord.
 Commitment 2: Internship and placement opportunities in industry;
 Commitment 8: Improving role and performance of Further
Education and Training (FET) Colleges
Project Categories (implementation so far….
 Association of Colleges South Africa (AOCSA)
 International Skills Partnerships (ISP)
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AoCSA
This would promote the effectiveness of South African FET colleges
by creating an organisation to support the sector’s approaches to:
 teaching and learning;
 curriculum design and delivery;
 quality;
 working with employers; and
 engaging with local communities.
Most importantly, the strategic thrust of the AoCSA will be to
contribute to building communities of trust amongst key role
players, to help to develop a coherent and integrated post-school
system.
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ISP Model
TVET
Government
SETA
ISP
Lobbying
Bodies
Industry
Skills
Players
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ISP in South Africa
Eastcape Midlands College and Walsall College and
Black County University Technical College
The partnership aims to develop a Bridging Programme to
increase the progression of learners from level 2 to level 3
NCV and to support the development of Eastcape Midland
College’s ‘Learning Company’ model.
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Sedibeng and Harrow, Dudley and Belfast Metropolitan
College
The partnership focuses on Curriculum design; lecturer
development; employer engagement and quality
assurance in the automotive sector only.
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Northlink and Gwent and Llandrillo Menai College
The project aims to develop skills relating to Renewable
Energy technologies by developing relevant curriculum,
delivery methodology and resource capability. The focus
will be on awareness of renewable energy, solar heating
and Gas.
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Orbit and Harrow, Dudley and Belfast Metropolitan
College
The project aims to focus on Curriculum design; lecturer
development; employer engagement and quality
assurance in the automotive sector.
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Gert Sibande and Highbury and North Hertfordshire
College
The partnership aims to develop and utilize appropriate
information technology systems for both learning and
management performance monitoring, which builds on a
system already developed by the college to monitor
teaching and learning practices.
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Q&A
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