THE National Association of Automotive Component & Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) are the lead national partners of High Gear, an initiative that aims to advance South Africa’s public TVET college system.
Managed by the International Youth Foundation (IYF), High Gear draws on industry knowledge and skills imperatives—along with IYF curricula enhancement tools—to strengthen the market relevance of select public TVET college courses.
“Ultimately, High Gear aims to demonstrate a model for greater industry involvement in TVET course design and delivery that generates enthusiasm from TVET educators and industry, while also generating positive returns for young people and employers,” said Renai Moothilal, Executive Director at NAACAM.
The UK Government’s Skills for Prosperity Programme is funding High Gear implementation in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation are funding project implementation in Eastern Cape Province.
To fully activate this new initiative, the three national High Gear partners—NAACAM, DHET, and IYF—hosted TVET and industry partnership workshops in Port Elizabeth and Durban recently.
“NAACAM believes that a strong TVET system is crucial to further enhance the competitiveness of the automotive components manufacturing industry in South Africa. Our association is, therefore, a proud and committed partner to High Gear,” said Moothilal.
