Scores of manufacturing, engineering and related services industry students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) will be the major beneficiaries of a R2.5-million Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA) sponsorship to boost small and medium enterprises.

This workplace experiential training initiative, aimed at closing the skills gap, was signed by merSETA and UJ on Thursday, September 16 2010 at the Madibeng Building, Kingsway Campus, Johannesburg.

The cash boost will provide UJ’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment with a “trickle-down” dividend from the initial R 2.5-million investment that will enable the university to place 100 students at participating companies in the mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering and industrial engineering disciplines for completion of their experiential training.

“Our partnership with the merSETA will ensure that we increase upskilled artisans with business acumen. As UJ is passionate about nurturing talent and innovation, This initiative will not only see the university provide extensive support and training to entrepreneurs in small to medium enterprises, but also place a service obligation on them when they complete their studies,” says Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, UJ’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

merSERTA CEO, Dr Raymond Patel, says the agreement is a culmination of intensive focus on key skills needed for Gauteng. “We went through a rigorous process of developing a structure that empowers training and developing youth seeking careers in the sectors,” says Dr Patel, adding that “contributing to the education of students in this sector is an investment in the future of South Africa while empowering and retaining staff is also a key consideration for staff motivation and skills retention within the sector.”

merSETA CEO Dr Raymond Patel and the University's Vice- Chancellor, Prof Ihron Rensburg at the signing.