Skills for Employability is a British Council programme that addresses the demand for skills in a global economy so that national educational and training systems are better able to respond to labour market demands and learner needs.
Skills for Employability focuses on building strong relationships with industry and employers, governments and training providers, using the UK’s expertise on standards, innovation and creativity in the field of skills training where the UK is a market leader.
Through policy dialogue, seminars and conferences, Skills for Employability brings international agencies and governments together to share the skills challenges and solutions for their education and training systems.
In South Africa unemployment sits at 24%. Of this percentage 73% are youths under the age of 35 years. South Africa’s National Development Plan has identified the crucial role small business needs to play in addressing this chronic jobs shortage. For this reason British Council South Africa focuses on developing entrepreneurial business skills.
Enterprise Challenge
The Enterprise Challenge is a fun business competition for high school learners and FET college students. Workshops are held where participants are taught basic business skills and encouraged to design an enterprise in response to their communities’ needs. Winners at provincial level compete nationally with the national winner going on to compete at the Global Virtual Enterprise Challenge. The 2012 Global Enterprise Virtual Challenge winners were South Africa’s own Pride of Africa team. Watch the video below.
Policy Dialogue
British Council South Africa has established a strategic dialogue with the Department for Higher Education and Training (DHET). The engagement, still in it’s infancy, will look to identify and explore solutions facing the Further Education and Training sector in South Africa.
Partners
The Skills for Employability programme in South Africa partners with National Business Institute (NBI) and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).