Recognizing the need for better quality TVET courses that are more relevant and more effective in enabling youth to find employment, SSACI, a non-profit, public-private partnership, established a workplace-based experience (WBE) programme in 50 public TVET colleges in South Africa.
WBE facilitates closer collaboration between training institutions and the private sector, which helps TVET institutions better understand the needs of industry and adapt their curricula accordingly. By 2015, SSACI developed a programme whereby students could be placed in industry positions for around 14 days of workplace-based experience, and the programme was rolled out in 50 public TVET colleges. In 2012, the basic programme was enhanced by incorporating assessments of student performance in the workplace, which count towards their end-of-year marks. In 2013, the programme was improved by offering industry-based experience to teachers. The programme has enabled the colleges to form lasting partnerships with local companies and therefore implement effective learning experiences in those workplaces, with positive feedback from all of the stakeholders. Furthermore, the initiative has been endorsed by the government, with official programme guidelines adopted in 2015.