www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I January 2025 19
Business
• Foster closer partnerships between industry and TVET colleges to facilitate practical training opportunities and align educational programmes with industry needs
• Emphasise the importance of hands-on training and internships to better prepare students for real-world applications
• Establish robust mechanisms for formal certification and registration of technicians to reduce the prevalence of informal practices
IMPACT OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL The visits covered TVET colleges and training centres in the provinces , with a particular focus on understanding the status of HVAC & R training across different regions . KwaZulu-Natal ( KZN ): Among the two private training centres visited , both were offering HVAC & R training . However , other institutions in the province were still in the process of obtaining accreditation from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations ( QCTO ). Mpumalanga : The region had two public TVET colleges , one of which was actively providing HVAC & R training . Notably , this college had a partnership with Samsung for commercial air conditioning services . Gauteng : The team visited three public and two private institutions . Of these , only one public and one private centre were offering HVAC & R training . Efforts will continue to engage with more institutions in Gauteng to assess their offerings . Western Cape : Out of the two private training centres visited , one was offering HVAC & R training , while the other was not . North West : Four institutions were visited , none of which were providing HVAC & R training . One centre was in the process of applying for accreditation through QCTO . Eastern Cape : Three public TVET colleges were visited . Only one offered HVAC & R training , focusing on automotive air conditioning . Limpopo : Two institutions were assessed , with only one offering HVAC & R training . The other was not yet providing such courses .
Out of 29 institutions visited , 15 were public TVET colleges , and 14 were private training centres . Among these :
• 12 TVET colleges ( both public and private ) were offering HVAC & R training
• 14 institutions were not providing HVAC & R training
• 3 institutions were focusing on automotive air conditioning
CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED The assessment highlighted several challenges affecting the HVAC & R training sector :
• Many public TVET colleges lacked adequate workshops for hands-on training in refrigeration and air conditioning
• There was a notable low intake of students into HVAC & R programmes , impacting on the future availability of qualified technicians
• Both public and private institutions reported inadequate funding and lack of modern equipment , hindering effective training
• Limited collaboration between public and private training centres was noted , which could impede the sharing of resources and knowledge
• There was a general lack of awareness and information about the HVAC & R field , which affects student interest and enrollment
Based on the findings , several key recommendations were made :
• TVET colleges and training centres should consider adopting the National Safe Refrigeration Curriculum to standardise and improve training quality
• Institutions should nominate their staff for ‘ train-the-trainer ’ workshops to ensure that lecturers are up-to-date with the latest HVAC & R skills and technologies
• Encourage gender balance in both student enrollment and staff appointments to foster diversity in the HVAC & R field
• Strengthen partnerships between public and private institutions to improve resource sharing and practical training opportunities
• Seek additional funding and support to upgrade facilities and acquire necessary equipment for effective training
One of the key recommendations was the organisation of oneday workshops to raise awareness and address existing gaps in training . These workshops would focus on enhancing practical training and increasing the overall effectiveness of HVAC & R education . Additionally , the DFFE plans to facilitate the donation of split-unit air conditioning systems with natural refrigerants to TVET colleges . This initiative is still in the pipeline , and further steps will be taken once the details are finalised .
During the site visits , it was observed from photographic evidence that many institutions were still utilising outdated equipment , some of which had been donated years ago but were not effectively utilised due to a lack of training .
“ It ’ s essential to assess whether the current training programmes align with market demands and whether graduates are successfully entering the workforce .”
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I January 2025 19