The Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SEPARC) has signed a contract with the Taiwan Technical Mission’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Enhancement Project to conduct a TVET and Industry Skills Gap Analysis.
SEPARC Executive Director Dr Thula Sizwe Dlamini said the Centre hoped the study marks the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between the two entities. He noted that TVET delivery is not comprehensive without the involvement of industries that absorb the TVET throughputs, hence it is important to conduct a study that will provide a holistic understanding of the current demand and supply dynamics, and absorption of TVET skills in Swaziland.
Dr Dlamini said the study would focus on three industries; Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Automotive, and Electrical Engineering. Adding, he noted that information from the investigation would highlight the structure of the country’s economy in the three sectors and may find out the existing skills against the required to support the identified sectors. “Education policy is one of the sectors that we need to focus on as an economy, particularly if we are striving for Swaziland to become a knowledge economy; hence our interest in the study, as it is demand driven and very important,” he added.
Present at the contract signing ceremony were Dr Dlamini, Senior Research Fellow Thabo Sacolo, Knowledge Manager Teetee Zwane, Research Fellow Mangaliso Mohammed, Associate Researcher Gugulethu Mgabhi and Graduate Researcher Tengetile Hlophe. Representing the Taiwanese TVET Enhancement Project were Baron Wang, Ju-Lan Wu and Andy Fong.
