COVER FEATURE: IKHALA TVET COLLEGE
How does Ikhala’ s governance keep pace with the changing needs of its workforce? As Council, we understand that governance must be responsive, not distant. We maintain structured oversight through management reports, labour engagement platforms, and regular interaction with organised labour as a key internal stakeholder. Beyond compliance, we deliberately create space for open communication and written submissions so that emerging workforce concerns are elevated to Council level. This ensures that decisions we take are grounded in the lived realities of both employees and the regional economy. Governance at Ikhala is not passive; it is intentionally connected to industry dynamics and labour trends.
How does Council ensure Ikhala’ s programmes are relevant to industry? Relevance is a governance priority. Council relies on labour market intelligence, provincial economic trends, and national skills demand analysis to guide strategic direction. We hold management accountable for ensuring that academic offerings respond directly to these insights. Our academic leadership is tasked with continuously reviewing programmes to ensure alignment with sectors driving growth in the Eastern Cape and the broader South African economy. As Council, we do not only ask,“ Are we compliant?”; we ask,“ Are we competitive and future-focused?”
Skills development must not exist in isolation; it must actively contribute to economic expansion and community upliftment.
What do you think businesses need to know about the quality of Ikhala graduates? Businesses must understand that TVET graduates bring practical competence, problem-solving ability, and hands-on technical expertise. Our students are trained for functionality, productivity, and innovation.
It is time to move beyond outdated perceptions. TVET graduates are not second tier; they are industry-ready professionals. If South Africa is serious about economic growth, it must fully utilise the strength of its vocational training institutions.
How can businesses get more involved with Ikhala? We invite businesses to move from being consumers of skills to co-creators of skills. Due to the rural footprint of our College, infrastructure constraints such as workshops and specialised facilities remain a challenge.
Strategic partnerships can bridge this gap. Industrybased training exposure, equipment support, and structured workplace learning placements will significantly strengthen the TVET ecosystem. When business collaborates intentionally, we collectively reshape the narrative of vocational education in South Africa.
By partnering with us, businesses are not only solving their skills shortages; they are contributing to regional economic stability and social transformation. �
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