The overarching aim of the EURYDICE project is to increase students' employability in the field of renewable energies, on the basis of closer collaboration between university and industry. Industry often complains that practical experience of the graduates is missing. This lack can be found on all the layers of the education system in South Africa: vocational training, diploma studies, bachelor and master degrees as well as doctoral studies.Within this project we focus on renewable energies with the overall goal to enhance employability. The energy generation landscape in South Africa is undergoing a fundamental transition, as the vision of the energy strategy is to contribute to an affordable energy for all. Closing the gap between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges) studies and diploma study by the definition of industrial experience requirements for University of Technology (UoT) diploma students. This leads to an increased preparedness and “studyability” of UoT diploma students. Industrial stakeholders will be integrated into the process. The project will develop an “Industrial Portal” as working tool. Increasing industrial experience in UoT bachelor education by the integration of practical experience into the curriculum. Within the project offered Fast-Track Acceleration program for graduates, enables students for a fast employment or starting a new enterprise in the field. To increase industry cooperation in post graduate education “OpenLabs” and “MobileLabs” are developed within the project. It is intended that industry brings industrial problems into the “Labs”, which will then be solved by the students.Workshops and summer schools guarantee that best-practices in defining and implementing the measures are being used, that input of all relevant stakeholders (i.e. South African students) is been taken into account.
The overarching aim of the EURYDICE project was to increase students' employability in the field ofrenewable energies, on the basis of closer collaboration between university and industry. In addition, practical elements are to be integrated into academic training (of all layers of the education system) and entrepreneurial skills are to be developed and expanded. Proposals for corresponding curricula updates have to be made.
The energy generation landscape in South Africa is undergoing a fundamental transition, as the vision of the energy strategy is to contribute to an affordable energy for all. Furthermore, South Africa is suffering from a worsening energy crisis and high unemployment. Graduates in the field are lacking practical experience. This lack can be found on all the layers of the education system: vocational training, diploma studies, bachelor and master degrees as well as doctoral studies.
<< Background >> The energy generation landscape in South Africa is undergoing a fundamental transition, as the vision of the energy strategy is to contribute to an affordable energy for all. Furthermore, South Africa is suffering from a worsening energy crisis and high unemployment. Graduates in the field are lacking practical experience. This lack can be found on all the layers of the education system: vocational training, diploma studies, bachelor and master degrees as well as doctoral studies. << Objectives >> The overarching aim of the EURYDICE project was to increase students' employability in the field ofrenewable energies, on the basis of closer collaboration between university and industry. In addition, practical elements are to be integrated into academic training (of all layers of the education system) and entrepreneurial skills are to be developed and expanded. Proposals for corresponding curricula updates have to be made. << Implementation >> After analyzing the status quo of all the three universities of technology in South Africa with respect to the above mentioned problems, a gap analysis was performed resulting in a proposal for a curriculum update in the field. In parallel, the three mobile and remote laboratories were designed, equipment purchased and the labs were implemented. An IT platform for students and industry was developed and lunched, an acceleration program was concepted and carried out. << Results >> Three mobile labs on renewable energy systems are installed in on-road or off-road trailers. They serve as show cases for the use of renewable energies also in rural and off-grid areas and at local industries and are integrated in the curricula as lab practices. This also holds for the two implemented remote labs. The acceleration program is a blueprint for courses in that field and can be used in different curricula. The “Industry Portal” is implemented and in use at the three institutions.