The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, will officially open the National Skills Conference, scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday, 14 – 15 March 2019, at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Hosted by the National Skills Authority (NSA), under the theme “Building a demand-led skills development system that focuses on inclusive economic growth”, the conference will be attended by over 1000 delegates, coming from education, training and skills development organisations, labour, private institutions, community based organisations, government departments, as well internationally.
In the main, the conference will seek to find solutions to the challenges and blockages experienced in the implementation of skills development interventions. Other objectives include the following:
- Communicating the new National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) and the Seta landscape beyond March 2020;
- Aligning skills development strategies with key national priorities and fourth industrial revolution by strengthening collaborations of labour market institutions with education and training institutions (TVETs, CETs and Universities)
- Fast tracking occupations in high demand and encourage international best practice on skills development;
- Give social partners a platform to pledge support and commitment to implement the strategy and
- Create a platform for skills development stakeholders to showcase the role played by their organisations and to disseminate information.
On Thursday evening, the National Skills Awards Ceremony will be held to confer on the organisations or institutions that promoted training programmes by widening access to work placement opportunities.
Minister Pandor will deliver a keynote address at 18h30.
Media are invited as follows:
Date: 14 and 15 March 2018
Time: 8h30 for the Conference and 18h30 for the Awards Gala on Thursday, 14 March 2019
Venue: Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg
Due to limited space, media are requested to RSVP by Wednesday, 13 March to Lehlohonolo Mphuthi on 061 985 9474/ Mphuthi.L@dhet.gov.za or Fhedzisani Mashau on 073 151 2680 /Mashau.F@dhet.gov.za
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele (Media Liaison Officer)
Mobile: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.n@dhet.gov.za
