MAFIKENG, NORTH WEST – Nissan South Africa (Nissan SA) today, Friday 13 July 2007, handed over engines and related engine parts to three Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in the North West province – Orbit, Taletso and Vuselela. The handover was carried out at Taletso FET College in Mafikeng.
The automotive engine and parts 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. Twenty previously disadvantaged learners at each of the North West FET colleges will benefit from the equipment, training on which will assist learners to achieve either a college or SETA certificate, depending on the institution's accreditation status.
North West MEC for Education, Reverend OJ Tselapedi, whose department identified the colleges as those most in need of such a donation, accepted the engine equipment on behalf of the three North West FET colleges. "The Chief Executive Officers, lecturers and students from each FET college are most grateful for such a vital learning tool, which, until now, these colleges did not have. Practical experience is an important aspect in the training of motor mechanics and we thank Nissan SA for providing the necessary equipment to assist our learners' understanding in their chosen field. It will also go a long way to closing the critical skills gap we find in many industries today."
In handing over the automotive equipment Dr Henry Grimbeek, Director Group Human Resources & Corporate Services at Nissan SA, said that he was delighted to be part of an initiative to enhance 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 and engine parts 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.
Nissan SA is to donate engines and related engine parts to other FET colleges in Gauteng and Limpopo to further develop skills and competencies under its CSI programme.
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