IYF hands over electric vehicle transition research to the DHET
The research states that TVET colleges lack competency frameworks for teaching students about electric vehicles.
Is South Africa ready for the electric vehicle transition?
Research executed under the direction of the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and funded by the British High Commission in SA, states that most automotive engineering lecturers in Post School and Education Training (PSET) were unaware of developments in Electric Vehicle (EV) technology, and that very few of them have the basic knowledge of ‘what makes an electric vehicle’.
The IYF was therefore led to commission a research imperative for the country’s inevitable transition to a greener economy and the growth of its electric vehicle industry.
On May 10 the research was handed over to the Department of Higher Education at Mini Midrand, proactively igniting action that will influence the success of the country’s energy transition.
According to the research, TVET colleges lack competency frameworks for teaching students about electric vehicles as the existing curriculum is obsolete and requires a modern facelift.
Speaking at the event, Anusha Naicker, country director of IYF SA said South Africa’s automotive landscape will soon require more sustainable resources to continue EV growth, and equally as significant, well-equipped, and trained EV automobile engineers and technicians.
“This means we need updated automotive training curriculums led by knowledgeable and qualified lecturers and facilitators in tertiary education,” said Naicker.
“TVETs have been incredibly hands-on in expanding the field’s curricula through a long-running collaboration with IYF’s engineering offshoot, High Gear, which has introduced practical and up-to-date industry training for both lecturers and students.”
DHET’s Velly Mbhele accepted the research and said it provides a solid foundation for a positive start by providing a roadmap that the IYF, TVETs, and DHET can follow in the journey towards a more environmentally sustainable and efficiently resourced electric vehicle sector.
The research is incredibly valuable, as it has been curated around finding the knowledge gaps in the automobile training sector and the resource gaps in TVETs — gaps that need to be identified so that the sector and its collaborators can start implementing sustainable solutions.
VOX POP
Midrand Reporter asked local residents what do they know about Electric Vehicles, here is what they had to say:
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/321395/pioneers-excel-at-the-science-expo/
