Schneider Electric South Africa has signed a statement of intent with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to expand their Access to Education training collaboration.

The Access to Education initiative seeks to address the large need for practical skills development within the energy field. Since 2012, it has provided energy education to almost 9 000 people and in the next four years will increase this to 30 000, including students, community members, entrepreneurs and teachers.

Focusing on development

The collaboration between Schneider Electric and the DHET will focus on student development, staff development, as well as curriculum and programme development. Caspar Herzberg, President of Schneider Electric Middle East and Africa, says they are delighted to sign the statement of intent with the Minister of Higher Education and Training.

“Schneider Electric recognises the importance of collaboration between industry and government to ensure development in the more than one hundred countries that we operate in. Initiatives such as these promote job creation and the establishment of new entrepreneurs through our training programs, Herzberg continues.

Collaboration is key

Looking to the future, Herzberg says the company has included its existing electrical artisan programmes, electric Teachers’ programme, and access to the Schneider Electric Academy, the online Energy University, its didactic equipment and practical exposure for electrical students as part of the scope of the statement of intent.

“It is critical that we expand on collaborations between industry and government in the field of higher education, training, and skills development so that we may consolidate, accelerate our efforts at preparing the workforce for the future,” Herzberg concludes.