Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the16th meeting of the Council at the Flavius Mareka TVET College, Sasolburg, Free State, on Friday 28 November 2014.

The Council was established in 2010 as a platform for government, private sector, organised labour, academic representatives, training and research institutions, as well as the community sector, to negotiate various initiatives to address human resource development in the country.

TVET Colleges Turnaround Strategy

The Council received a report on the Department of Higher Education and Training's Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges Turnaround Strategy. The strategy seeks to address poor delivery of teaching, poor management and administration of institutions and limited access for learners to workplaces.

The Department of Higher Education and Training reported that 50 college councils had been appointed in line with new legislation, that all 10 colleges that were previously under administration are no longer under administration and all vacancies for principals have been filled.

The Council called for closer partnership between industry and TVET colleges to secure rotation of learning between colleges and workplaces for learners. The Council believes this partnership will enhance the relevance of training to industry and will enhance learners' employability.

The Council also considered recommendations by its Foundational Learning Technical Task Team on overcoming blockages in the schooling system.

The technical task team has devised a conceptual framework for addressing teacher professionalism. This covers recruitment and preparation of teachers, induction and mentorship, the work environment and career progression.

Maritime Sector Skills

The Council's Maritime Sector Skills Technical Task Team tabled its final report on addressing blockages in the maritime skills development pipeline. The recommendations of this task team are designed to help the country leverage its marine economy, including the current activity around offshore gas and oil.

Among its varied recommendations, the task team has proposed an increase in the production capacity for maritime education and training. Programmes to expose teachers to the maritime industry and the promotion of maritime education at basic education level are among the proposed measures.

Other initiatives include investment in maritime education infrastructure at institutions of higher education.

Biz-Net Technology Hub

The Council also endorsed a proposal on an international partnership to establish a hub for technology startups in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Led by Wits University, the Business Innovation Zone Network will partner with institutions in Canada and India to establish a technology hub that will focus on skills development, entrepreneurship and youth employment.

Entrepreneurs or others will have access to free, shared work space and bandwidth for collaboration and networking.

The hub will support South Africa's national priorities and development objectives; address poverty, inclusivity and unemployment, and contribute to rejuvenation of central Johannesburg.

It is anticipated that the hub could create 1 000 direct and 3 000 indirect jobs over the next three years, and that it will spawn 150 new SMMEs during the same period. It will also serve as the inspiration for the establishment of innovation zones countrywide.

Adopt-a-TVET College Programme

In its Declaration at the end of the 16th meeting, the Council launched the Adopt-A-TVET College programme which constitutes the commitment of time, energy and expertise of a business or organisation to an individual college.

A partnership is created when a business and college mutually agree to work together on projects that will enhance the quality of education for students while improving skills that are critical to success in the workplace. The partnership gives effect to the national Human Resource Development Strategy and Human Resource Development Plan.