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Minister Nzimande ’ s vision of SMART Skills Centres becomes a reality
The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority ( CHIETA ) has become the first to make the new vision of SMART Skills Centres a reality by unveiling the CHIETA SMART Skills Centre in Saldanha Bay late 2022 . The aim of the R3-million centre is to bridge the digital skills divide and accelerate the development of basic digital skills for a future-fit workplace .
In 2020 , the Minister of Higher Education , Science and Innovation , Dr Blade Nzimande , articulated a vision for SMART Skills Centres to be established in all parts of the country . The skills centres were planned to usher in a new era of skills development and training that would be located within rural communities and able to offer digitised training programmes for rural masses .
The historic launch of the CHIETA SMART Skills Centre follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding , less than a year ago , with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone ( SBIDZ ) Licencing Company Soc Ltd . The project is the culmination of a partnership between CHIETA , the IDZ , the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa ( NEMISA ), and the Media , Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority ( MICT SETA ). The CHIETA SMART Skills Centre is but one of nine SMART centres that will be developed across the country by CHIETA . The centre ’ s services are free and include access to data and training courses aimed at job seekers , business start-ups and small , medium and micro enterprises ( SMMEs ) that wish to grow their operations . The centre is fully automated and features equipment which is in line with 4IR training requirements .
According to the minister , CHIETA and the Freeport Saldanha IDZ recognised the need to develop digital readiness through technology-enabled learning programmes like virtual and augmented reality , robotics , and the Internet of Things , among others . “ I congratulate CHIETA ’ s visionary leadership for conceiving the idea of such a
centre and for locating it with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone ,” said the minister , adding that the centre will increase the number of sustainable businesses and available talent , ensuring that the Saldanha Bay economy grows by providing relevant , technology-driven services while meeting the needs of the Saldanha Bay IDZ investors , workforce , supply chain demand and industry .
“ The CHIETA Smart Skills Centre is a game-changer in skills development and training . Rural communities will now have access to free data and Wi-Fi services as well as basic digital skills and 4IR-related training , thereby ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital skills revolution ,” says Yershen Pillay , CEO of CHIETA .
“ What makes the centre unique is its accessibility to rural communities and the virtual-reality or VR-based training for artisans . The SMART centre will include a digital boardroom for SMMEs and cooperatives to conduct meetings with potential clients . The centre will also offer skills programmes in the areas of 5G cellular networking , data analytics , technopreneurship , Java programming and cybersecurity . CHIETA has committed to enrolling 50 000 learners for digital skills programmes through its Saldanha Bay SMART Skills Centre by March 2025 . This will ensure that people are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in the workplace ,” comments Pillay .
Commenting on the partnership , NEMISA CEO , Trevor Rammitlwa says that the institute will provide access to its digital technology courses , including digital literacy , through the SMART Skills Centre . These will be made available through the
The aim of the R3 million centre is to bridge the digital skills divide and accelerate the development of basic digital skills for a future-fit workplace .
All images supplied by CHIETA PR
Unveiling the CHIETA SMART Skills Centre in Saldanha Bay on 25 October 2022 .
NEMISA Microsoft platform , the Coursera Platform and the NEMISA LMS at the centre . These platforms will offer more than 3 000 courses that learners can choose from . The courses can be accessed online from the centre and NEMISA will also avail its training facilitators for face-to-face classes . The organisation will showcase these learning platforms at the launch of the centre , says Rammitlwa .
MICT SETA CEO Matome Madibana says : “ The decision to collaborate on digital transformation initiatives and implement cross-sectoral skills development initiatives , responsive to the fourth industrial revolution , is part of the MICT SETA ’ s drive to massify digital skills and is in line with our mandate to grow the pool of future skills in the country .
“ The thirty-five ( 35 ) 4IR occupationally directed qualifications have been developed by the MICT SETA to address skills shortages in various streams , including : cybersecurity , Java Script , 5G , technopreneur , the Internet of Things , software development , cloud computing , design thinking , artificial intelligence and robotic processing automation , among others .”
“ CHIETA ’ s aim is to increase the number of sustainable businesses and available talent , ensuring the economy grows by providing relevant , technology-driven services while meeting the needs of the SBIDZ investors , workforce , supply chain demands and industry ,” concludes Pillay .
“ The Centre is an exemplar in the pursuit of excellence in tech education , research and development towards high calibre solutions and the generation of business that find opportunities to drive innovation as part of Saldanha Bay ’ s socioeconomic development ,” says Kaashifah Beukes , CEO of Freeport Saldanha IDZ .
The SMART Centre concept also dovetails with the skills development efforts of the Department of Higher Education and Training ( DHET ), which is mandated to promote and monitor the national skills development strategy . The Department is also responsible for developing and implementing appropriate legislation and policies for a sustained quality and accessible post-school education and training system . The CHIETA centre was officially opened by Minister of Higher Education , Science and Technology , Dr Blade Nzimande who delivered a keynote address at the event . CLA
The decision to collaborate on digital transformation initiatives and implement crosssectoral skills development initiatives , responsive to the fourth industrial revolution , is part of the MICT SETA ’ s drive to massify digital skills .
- MICT SETA CEO Matome Madibana
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