Now in its second decade, NMU’ s Isuzu Chair of Mechatronics programme is making a difference.
Isuzu enhancing EC mechatronics
Now in its second decade, NMU’ s Isuzu Chair of Mechatronics programme is making a difference.
Real experience
The vehicle brand best known for bakkies continues to invest in local technical talent. Isuzu and the Nelson Mandela University( NMU) are strengthening their industry-academia partnership. The goal is to develop South Africa ' s next generation of engineering talent.
Since 2018, Isuzu has invested R2.3 million in the NMU ' s Isuzu Chair of Mechatronics, benefiting 276 students through industry-linked projects, plant exposure, mentorship and access to Isuzu engineers and technical specialists.
The partnership between Isuzu and NMU dates back to 2009, when Isuzu South Africa was still operating as a local entity of General Motors. After Isuzu South Africa became a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu Japan in 2018, local operations scaled and the need for a better pipeline of technical and engineering staff increased. That ' s why Isuzu has continued to invest in developing South African graduate skills for real-world automotive industry applications.
Beyond the financial support for NMU ' s mechatronics engineering, an invaluable aspect of Isuzu ' s involvement is deep industry exposure. This includes industry-linked projects, mentoring, plant visits, guest lectures and technical guidance, giving students opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge within a working manufacturing environment.
The extraordinary investment in developing young toolmakers and mechatronics specialists has effectively powered the Chinese automotive industry miracle. For NMU ' s Isuzu Chair of Mechatronics programme, applying knowledge is everything. One project that proves the training pipeline has real value was for NMU third-year mechatronics students. The project scope was for a cab and load-box transfer project. It involved 20 students visiting Isuzu ' s manufacturing plant and engaging with technical personnel to develop potential solutions.
Lomelelo Nogilana was one of the third-year mechatronics engineering students who worked on the cab and load-box transfer project. " Working on a real manufacturing challenge allowed me to apply the theory I have gained over the past three years in a practical industry environment. It strengthened my problem-solving skills and deepened my understanding of automation and robotics.
Chinese industrial engineering and toolmaking have proven that without advanced mechatronics, production costs can overwhelm automakers as they scale. With Chinese automakers using the latest mechatronics integration within assembly lines, enabled by an abundance of skilled toolmakers to configure and maintain the tooling, the trend is clear: mechatronics is the differentiator. South African automakers need to optimise mechatronics integration within their assembly lines to remain globally competitive. And Isuzu is investing in that capacity by helping shape the country ' s next generation of mechatronics engineers.
WORDS IN ACTION 20 OCTOBER 2026