MOU to further skills development in Eastern Cape

Mninawe (Pepi) Silinga (CDC Chief Executive) (seated, centre) and (right) Prof Andrew Leitch, (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Engagement at NMMU) signing the MoU at the CDC Business Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay. Also present at the MOU signing were, seated left, Bonginkosi Mthembu (CDC Executive Manager: Corporate Services); standing (middle row from left), Fezile Ndema (CDC Manager - Performance Monitoring and Evaluation); Duncan Grenfell (CDC Human Capital Solutions Head of Recruitment and Placement); Jaci Barnett (Director – Innovation; Christopher Mashigo (CDC Business Development Executive Manager); Dr Ossie Franks (Dean- Faculty of Engineering); and Dr Ayanda Vilakazi (CDC Head of Marketing and Communications); (standing back from left) Professor Cederic McCleland (Acting Dean- Faculty of Science); Luvuyo Mkontwana (CDC Head of Economic Infrastructure Development); Professor Steve Burgess (Director-NMMU Business School); Professor George de Lange (Director - Centre for Academic Engagement and Collaboration); Professor Hendrik Lloyd (Director-School of Economic Sciences) and Professor Victor Exner (Dean - Faculty of Health Sciences).

NMMU will provide specific services related to development, training, research, testing, advisory and consultancy. It has undertaken to assist the CDC to develop and implement strategy and development programmes that will improve skills and competencies within the specific sectors involved in the development of the Coega IDZ, in the context of the national skills development strategy.

The original MOU was concluded in 2006 and both institutions expressed the need to revisit, update and formally sign an updated MOU, which was concluded on Monday 21 September 2015.

NMMU Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Leitch, said the MOU was a commitment of the university to pursue projects in various sectors which may also be of benefit to the CDC which include oil and gas exploration, marine and maritime, nuclear, energy including renewable energy, and innovation.

In addition, the NMMU is working towards the establishment of a maritime and marine faculty and a medical school. It will also ensure the business school is working with business to address economic and leadership challenges facing the province and South Africa. He reiterated the university's commitment to working very close with the CDC through a Dean of Faculties as part of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC).

CDC Chief Executive Mninawe "Pepi" Silinga said, "Successful economies are marked by close working relationships between industry and academia. The university would assist the CDC, amongst others, to keep up with new areas of knowledge and turn them into innovation including but not limited to business and systems analysis, so we are pleased to cementing this relationship. It is our added hope that in two years' time the MOU will find expression in concrete projects and programmes."

Among the personal growth and development opportunities offered by the CDC to both staff and interns are the University of Cape Town's part-time Business Analysis and Systems Analysis (BASA) diploma, and Prince 2 Project Management training. Training is also offered in communications, and more than 30 interns were trained in business etiquette in the past financial year. A further 10 interns have been identified to enrol with the Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute (TMALI).