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Afrox opens custom container welding school
All images by Afrox
The new welding academy was officially opened on 7 September 2017 .
During the official opening .
The inaugural students for the LIV Welding Academy programmes selected for training in October .
The LIV Welding Academy , a custom container welding school that was developed by Afrox in partnership with LIV and the Southern African Institute of Welding ( SAIW ), was officially opened on 7 September 2017 .
The LIV Village provides holistic residential care for orphaned and vulnerable children , with the objective of nurturing and educating the children to become valuable members of society . In addition to assisting in the development of the welding school , Afrox also provided welding equipment , consumables , and gases , and trained the instructors .
Afrox has obtained Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority ( CHIETA ) and Quality Control for Trades and Occupations ( QCTO ) accreditation for the training programmes .
Johann Pieterse , business manager for Manufacturing Industries at Afrox , says the gases and welding company is very proud to be in partnership with such a worthwhile community project , and the Afrox welding training programmes will be the first to receive QCTO accreditation . “ We have selected our inaugural 12 students for the LIV Welding Academy programmes and they will begin their training in October . They will be the first students to obtain a welding qualification with QCTO accreditation ,” says Pieterse .
He explains that there is an ongoing demand for qualified welders in South Africa and that Afrox ’ s aim is not to just train welders , but also to give the LIV Welding Academy students a recognised South African and international qualification . Pieterse adds that Afrox intends to certify the LIV Welding Academy as an International Institute of Welding ( IIW ) authorised training body in partnership with the SAIW , who owns the programme in South Africa on behalf of the IIW .
The LIV project follows on from the success of Afrox ’ s POPUP welding facility in Soshanguve , which supports various technical upskilling programmes with an emphasis on welding as an indemand route to a sustainable career . This first-class tertiary welding facility was launched in 2016 and provides quality training focused on skills development that will contribute to a formal qualification .
Pieterse says that Afrox is not only generating new knowledge to benefit the welding sector broadly , but also demonstrates a practical response to enhancing the skills levels of welding teachers by offering five welding process training programmes . Afrox has already trained over 40 teachers and provided safety training to 13 000 people in the mining , transport , fabrication , petrochemical , and energy sectors .
Enhancing local skills is the main driving force behind Afrox ’ s skills development programme and extends to schools to attract and inform pupils about the advantages of a technical career . It also encourages more young learners to study welding further at a tertiary level . To this end , Afrox has partnered with the Department of Education to upgrade and re-equip 14 technical schools in the Free State , Gauteng , KwaZulu-Natal , Eastern Cape , and Western Cape , to create awareness of welding as a career opportunity , to strengthen the capacity of the schools , and upskill teachers . The company makes bursaries and internships available to welding students .
“ Welding is the backbone of industry as it builds economies , infrastructure , and whole nations . Afrox has invested tens of millions of rands into research and development over the years ,” says Pieterse . “ Our commitment to our welding schools and centres is a reality , as we are dedicated in encouraging the youth to take up this profession of the future . We hope to see thousands of young people graduate as welders in years to come .” CLA
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