ALEXANDRA, JOHANNESBURG – Nissan South Africa (Nissan SA) today handed over engines to Gauteng's eight Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges – Ekurhuleni East, Ekurhuleni West, Tshwane North, Tshwane South, Sedibeng, South West, Central Johannesburg and Western College. The handover was carried out at Alexandra Campus which falls under Central Johannesburg FET College.
The automotive engines are intended to provide experiential training for predominantly previously disadvantaged individuals who are studying motor mechanics in the Engineering Department of their respective institutions. It is anticipated that learning delivery will be enhanced by practical demonstration and application of subject content. A total of 32 campuses, each with niche learning programmes, are attached to the eight colleges. The 2007 intake of students training to be motor mechanics is 480, of which 160 (20 at each Gauteng FET college) will benefit from direct training on the equipment. Students successfully completing the motor mechanics course will achieve a N3 Certificate in motor trade theory and a NC (V) – National Curriculum (Vocation) – qualification in automotive maintenance and repair.
Mokaba Mokgatle, who heads the Gauteng Education Department's FET Directorate, accepted the engines on behalf of the eight provincial FET colleges. "The prinicipals, lecturers and students from each FET college – all of which are represented here today – thank Nissan for making the engines available for hands-on learning. They will be of great assistance both in preparation for successful completion of the motor mechanics course and in the wider application on leaving college. We are also grateful that Nissan is committed to closing the critical skills gap of which government is passionate."
In handing over the automotive equipment Pat Senne, Nissan's General Manger of Corporate Affairs and Communication, said that she was delighted to be part of an initiative to enhance community upliftment and skills training: "An important focus in our corporate social investment (CSI) programme is education, training and development – both among our employees, their families and communities, and the community at large. In providing the colleges with engines to assist in the practical training of learners, we ultimately benefit not only Nissan but the whole automotive industry."
A memorandum of understanding (MOU), outlining terms of the agreement, was signed by both parties at today's handover.
Today's handover is the second in a series of engine donations aimed at the development of skills and competencies under Nissan's CSI programme. Three engines have already been donated to colleges in the North West. A further donation is also scheduled for FET colleges in Limpopo.
Added Senne: "Nissan's manufacturing plant in Rosslyn draws its employees predominantly from the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo and North West and while we feel it is important to serve our communities in the immediate vicinity of our operations, we also want to make an impact on the greater community in these three areas.
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