The Brakpan campus of Ekhurleni East College for Further Education and Training is receiving essential support from Siemens Communications in the delivery of a new ICT in Engineering programme where on 6 September, the company handed over equipment to the value of R85 000 to the college.
Lucky Masilela, Director of the Tshwane-based Siemens Training Institute, says this equipment fulfils the college's electronics laboratory requirements and signifies the start of what both parties hope to be a long relationship.
"Ekhurleni East College FET has impressed us with its research of the marketplace, resulting in a programme which will deliver skills that are in high demand," says Masilela. "Therefore, we are happy to work with the college to make it happen."
Dr Johan Groenewald, Ekhurleni East College FET project manager, says the electronics laboratory donation will enable the Brakpan campus to unveil the new programme to students shortly.
"The ICT in Engineering programme is a unique course that enables learners to access all skill requirements of an ICT engineer in a single programme," he says. "These professionals are in high demand; however, no other training institute offers the skills in a single programme. Now, with the help of Siemens, we are able to do just that."
The ICT in Engineering academy will focus on four areas of specialisation within the ICT arena including electronics engineering, electrical engineering, information technology/ computer engineering and telecommunications engineering. Groenewald says that education and training in these areas will start from pre-university level, graduate level and post-graduate level.
In addition to the initial equipment donation, Siemens Communications has committed to providing the college with some of its specialist lecturers in electronics and telecommunications from the Siemens Training Institute.
"Although many companies are willing to donate funds and equipment to initiatives such as these, not many think of the training and support needed to ensure donations are utilised to their fullest capacity. In this area, Siemens prides itself on helping people and organisations to help themselves," says Masilela.
"Ekhurleni East College FET Brakpan Campus will not only use our lecturers to provide education to students, but also to train its trainers - thereby bridging the skills gap and facilitating the growth of this programme to its other campuses."
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Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services.
Siemens Communications is the world's innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2003 (year-end 30 September), its 60 000-strong workforce posted sales of about 17 billion euros.
More about Siemens Communications at www.siemens.com/communications.
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