West Coast College recently won two awards at the National Skills Development Awards in Pretoria.
The institution won a Gold Award in the Best Placement category (number of graduates placed in industry on completion of their programme) and a Bronze Award for Best Artisan Development category.
During September 2016 West Coast Technical and Vocational (TVET) College, along with other TVET colleges, submitted applications to compete in a range of different categories in the National Skills Development Competition hosted by The National Skills Authority (NSA). The awards ceremony is held in conjunction with the Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande and awards were issued based on the institution’s 2014 to 2016 performance.
A national conference took place 23-24 March at the Saint George’s Hotel in Pretoria. A gala event was held the Thursday evening, where West Coast College scooped the awards.
National Skills Development Awards were given to institutions and organisations implementing skills development programmes in accordance with the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III) goals. The objectives of the awards are:
- To celebrate excellence by recognising the best skills development practices across all skills development implementers and projects funded by the national skills fund in various categories.
- To provide extensive and national coverage/exposure for best skills development practices through print and electronic media.
- To recognise work placement opportunities created through the various learning programmes, ie artisan development, TVET graduate placement, universities graduate placement, learnerships and internships.
- To encourage maximum use of workplace-based skills development initiatives.
- To mobilise business, government, community and providers to ensure the realisation of the NSDS III goals.
