by Itumeleng Maloka
In a milestone move for the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the Directorate of Co-operative Education (DCE) has just launched a Work Integrated Learning Advisory Council aimed at bridging the gap between academia and the world of work.
“The newly launched Advisory Council, which comprises highly esteemed industry experts, is an important step towards ensuring the effectiveness of work-integrated learning programs” said the Deputy Chairperson, Cynthia Reynders.
“The launch of the DCE WIL Advisory Council is the first of its kind, which was necessitated by the existing gap between the curriculum at universities and industry requirements. It will also make recommendations to the University on possible changes to the curriculum to produce sufficiently equipped and employable students upon completion of their studies,” said Council Chairperson, Mxolisi Mathebula.
Reynders added that the appointment of the first national TUT WIL Advisory Board is to ensure that the already well-functional WIL system is improved. According to her the Council will play an imperative role in identifying existing problems that industries and students grapple with and finding sufficient solutions to address those problems.
Mathebula explained that the Council aims to enhance the partnership and foster effective collaboration between industry and the institution. In addressing the plaguing issue of skills mismatch, the Advisory Council will be at the forefront of providing the institution with industry-related information that will aid in enhancing the curriculum to better match industry requirements. He added they will explore where the gaps are, or what industry is looking for and further advise the University to ensure that they close that gap.
“If industry is looking for a certain skill, we will share that information with TUT to enable them to close that gap,” Mathebula said.
Statistics South Africa's first quarter of 2024 report revealed that the country’s unemployment rate stood at 32.9%, with youth unemployment at 45.5% and job losses recorded across different sectors. According to Dr Mumthaz Banoobhai, Senior Director of High Education Development and Support and one of the esteemed members of the newly launched Advisory Council, the Council will ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills which might ascertain their employment, despite the economic issues characterised by job losses.
“In terms of economic issues, especially where companies are retrenching people, it is not something we can control. However, what we can control is to make sure that our students have the best basis in terms of their knowledge and skills to be absorbed and retained when they enter the market,” said Dr Banoobhai.
The Advisory Council will engage with stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of Work-Integrated Learning programmes in order to increase students' employability. Mathebula emphasised that the Advisory Council would engage with and motivate industries to go beyond just equipping students with relevant skills, but to bridge the gap between training and employment by providing job opportunities to some of the students. In essence, the Council will support the employment of work-integrated learning students to ensure that they do not fall through the cracks of unemployment.
Mathebula noted that the Advisory Council will be in place for a three-year period and meet regularly before the new advisory board will be appointed.
Members of the WIL Advisory Council