The Fourth Industrial Revolution Takes Shape at SWGC
South West Gauteng TVET College (SWGC) in collaboration with the Chemical Industrial Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) Seta held an award ceremony for a group of 150 learners.
This follows funding from CHIETA Seta to the value of R1 480 000.00, to fund learners who took part in the Career Guidance & Fourth Industrial revolution Programme. This programme ran for 22 days during the June holidays, with the funds being paid for Engino Robotic Kits, software ready Tablets and to pay for their stipends.
The programme was aimed at teaching learners the fundamentals of Robotic, how to assemble and programme a robot. Coding, the process of creating instructions for the computer using programming languages. Programming, the process of creating a set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task and 3D Printing, which is a machine allowing the creation of the physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many layers of material in succession. This programme particularly targeted learners who are doing their National Vocational Certificate (NC(V)), in order to assist them in grasping the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) so that they can improve their results and understand the Digital Migration Process.
Graced by the presence of the Higher Education Deputy Minister Buti Manamela, the Acting Principal of SWGC Mr. Joey Monyamane, the CEO of CHIETA Mr. Yershen Pillay and Chairperson Ms. Wezi Khoza amongst other delegates. The ceremony was indeed something to brag about.
According to the CEO of CHIETA Mr. Pillay, the programme was introduced in respect of the rapid growing need for skills in “STEM”. “The world of work and Fourth Industrial Revolution are evolving fast and it is crucial that students are well prepared to step into this world with all the necessary tools at hand”. Said Mr Pillay. He further said that this programme will improve the students’ employability and will also give them a basic understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution- related skills and how to apply them within the work place or their own businesses.
Higher Education Deputy Minister Buti Manamela indicated that is much more evident that people are living in the age where everything around is being digitised into electronic data. He went on to say that, the technological breakthroughs such as television sets, telephones, radio, computers and the internet have revolutionised communication and the spread of information and that is why the World Economic Forum observed that new industries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution are creating fewer jobs and those jobs require advanced skills, that’s why this programme is very important. “It pleases us to note that the response by young people to this programme was overwhelmingly positive. We are making an investment in our young people because we want to shift the South African economy from primarily resource-driven to a knowledge-driven economy”. Said the Deputy Minister.
Kgomotso Chineloane from the winning Campus of the programme challenge explained how she felt about being part of this programme and what she has learnt and what she will impart to other students in the future. “At first I thought that we were brought into this programme to play with toys and I thought it was a waste of my time until the actual work started. For me the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution was introduce to me using an Engino Robotic Kit and from thereon there was never a time where I ever went home feeling like I have wasted my time attending this programme. All the sessions that I attended gave me the sense that indeed anything is really possible. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is really an exciting time to live in”. Said Kgomotso.
ADDRESS BY MR. JOEY MONYAMANE
ADDRESS BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MR BUTI MANAMELA
COOL 2 BE @ SWGC
