From Legacy to Operational Training
A switch from legacy to occupational training as per the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is a point of focus for the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) training centre in its commitment to providing industry-aligned training and qualifications. Training will have a strong emphasis on practical on-the-job training as well as the theoretical aspect.
Nine trades
The SEIFSA Training Centre offers accredited occupational apprenticeship programmes, specialised short courses in the engineering field, safety training, production technology training, and other non-accredited and accredited courses. It offers training in nine trades: namely welder, boilermaker, mechanical fitter, fitter and turner, turner machinist, millwright, pipe fitter, electrical and instrumentation.
The Training Centre is in the process of upgrading its legacy toolmaker accreditation to an occupational qualification for modern toolmakers. This trade is aligned with level 5 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF level 5), increasing the number of trades offered at the training centre to 10.
More employable
Seifsa Training Centre (STC) director, Emile Jacobs says this new equipment acquired for the modern toolmakers accreditation will help to make artisans more employable and reduce the need to import workers from other countries.
“Learning a trade not only improves an individual’s employment opportunities but can also be the basis of starting a small and, in time, a medium-sized enterprise. The training centre runs an incubation hub pilot project, teaching artisans business skills, including marketing, business plan development and costing. The artisans who complete the incubation process are equipped with skills to create work for themselves and others,” Seifsa CEO, Lucio Trentini concludes.
