Suncrest College and King Hintsa TVET College Partnership for Skills Development
On the 24 th of February 2025 King Hintsa TVET College hosted a delegation from Canada’s Suncrest College as part of the South African Skills Training Enhancement Programme (SASTEP). This partnership forms part of an exchange programme that will be shared amongst the colleges with different steps and skills training for college students. The delegation the visited college campuses for firsthand experience and gather information and interact with students regarding their experiences and
challenges.
The college is part of 15 colleges that will be part of a SASTEP exchange programme with Canadian colleges. This programme includes colleges from Limpopo and the Eastern Cape as part of the curriculum development. The SASTEP programme has four step that will be gradually phased in:
- Blended learning
- Gender & Inclusivity
- School to work transition
- Research and partnership
Suncrest college was represented by Ms Lisa Cadieuxde Larios, Ms Kami DePape and Mr Mario Merat who will be liaising with the different colleges. The SSS Manager did a presentation for the visiting colleagues to basically give them a clear view of the college activities. He presented on all college programmes per campus and the recruitment process of students, the application process which
is online. DHET is in a process of introducing Occupational programmes that will be skills based. The phasing out of the current Report 191 programmes is expected to be done by 2027. The college is currently upgrading workshops to offer programmes that speak to industry and what is within the vicinity i.e maritime studies as the college campuses are circuited along the coast. This interactive meeting also touched on other aspects of the college including the qualifications and placement of students. For a student who is doing a Report 191 diploma one does an 18months theory and needs a placement for the other 18months to do practical. Engineering is done differently as it is a trimester course and 2years practical placement. The challenge now is ensuring that all students get placement especially the Engineering students and to also get funding opportunities for the benefit of placement of students.
“This is an ongoing programme where college students, lecturers and staff will be trained in the different steps. SASTEP is a three-year programme that starts in 2025 until 2027 in a staggered approach. 2025 is collection of information and preparations to also familiarise themselves with the SA TVET sector, 2026 will be capacity building in the different colleges as per the needs and to also do trainings/delivery of the suitable programmes as identified and 2027 will be to monitor the roll out of these programmes and ensure that colleges in both provinces are able to deliver on expected outcomes” said Mr Mario Merat from Suncrest College.
