“Meet the Automotive Industry Day” on 17 July 2024
Bridging the Gap between Education and the Industry
A catalyst for bridging the gap between theory and practice, equipping lecturers with insights into real world industry needs.
There is a significant gap between what the students learn in educational settings and the skills needed by businesses, particularly in the private sector. This poses a challenge for colleges to adequately prepare students for careers in the automotive industry. Meet the Automotive Industry Day organized by RMI on the 17th of July 2024 was conceived to directly address this issue by providing a platform where college lecturers exposure to the
private industry. This day not only showcases the latest advancements and trends but also facilitates hands-on experiences at leading car manufacturers. We are immensely grateful to Reemo Swartz, Regional Manager & MIWA Associational Representative for Free State/Northern Cape, for his instrumental role in facilitating the Meet the Automotive Industry Day, as becoming successful professional artisan requires continuous learning and
adaptation to new technologies and industry standards.
This collaboration creates linkages and a strong network for the skilled artisans, involving fostering partnerships between the industry and vocational educational institutions, the day provided a platform where everyone can exchange ideas and develop solutions. By bridging the gap between education and industry, this initiative strives to create a more cohesive and effective approach to technical and vocational education. The ultimate goal is Motheo lecturers were delighted to see one of their lumni students Kennedy who is selected for training at Mercedes Benz. This success story underscores the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector.
By inviting industries to students and expose lecturers to industry practices, educational institution and industries must ensure a continuous flow of current industry knowledge back into the classroom. This proactive approach guarantees that students remain abreast of industry advancements, enhancing their readiness for the demand of the job market.to produce qualified students who will then become highly skilled artisans who are not only well-prepared for immediate employment but also capable of driving innovation and contributing to the growth of the our eleven automotive lectures got a chance to be hosted by BMW, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Swedo Tech where they got to be exposed to all the industry innovations advancements and take them back into classrooms. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Bruno Burri from Swedo Tech for his invaluable contribution to our event and for generously opening the doors of his workshop to our lecturers. His insights and guidance have been instrumental in emphasizing the importance of lecturers actively engaging with the industry. Bruno’s encouragement for our lecturers to immerse themselves in the industry, seek opportunities for collaboration, and be open to support—such as sponsored resources like engines, highlights the mutual benefit of such partnerships. These experiences not only enrich our lecturers’ understanding of current industry practices, but also directly benefit our students by providing them with practical, real-world learning opportunities.
By fostering closer ties between academia and industry, we aim to better prepare students for future careers, ensuring they possess the practical skills and knowledge demanded by today’s competitive job market.
By bringing together key stakeholders from both sectors, these days aim to create a platform where ideas and solutions can be exchanged, ultimately leading to a more integrated and effective approach to technical and vocational education and training (TVET). This synergy is essential for producing highly skilled artisans who are not only job-ready but also capable of driving innovation and growth within the automotive industry.
