For the 2008-2012 periods, Siemens has awarded a total of €4 million to be split equally between the two institutions. These funds are solely assigned for the procurement of technical equipment needed for practical exposure on the equipment being used in the industry, in such areas as electrical engineering, welding and turning.

The grants are linked to performance goals that are defined in advance, and are coupled, for example, with the number of students who have successfully passed their trade. If all students successfully complete their studies, the college receives full funding for that year; if only 80 percent was achieved, then 80 percent of the available funding for that year will be received by the colleges. “Due to the Siemens partnership, the SAJ Competency Training Institute has been able to upgrade its facility, expand its training portfolio and release a greater number of skilled and certified artisans into the South African Industry,” said SAJ founder Johann Greef.

By the time the funding ceases in 2012, both training facilities will be equipped with the latest technologies and students would have received quality practical exposure on the relevant technologies used and they become more employable to the industry. Moreover, Siemens itself also benefits from this commitment, as the students being trained at these colleges are all potential future employees of the company.

The results of this partnership have already been seen: 3,942 young students successfully completed training between the 2008 and 2012 fiscal years.