Education and training

University research is linked to development issues.

The reputation of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as a leading research institution was enhanced in 2018 with the opening of a Chemistry Postgraduate Research Facility at the School of Chemistry and Physics in Pietermaritzburg.

The university aims to align its research programme with important areas of development such as food security, health, liveable cities and climate change. The R30-million facility was funded mainly by the National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). UKZN also hosts the National Research Foundation.

There are two universities and two universities of technology in KwaZulu-Natal, and the national distance university, the University of South Africa (Unisa), has a presence in five locations. USB Executive Development offers business courses for executives.

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has six faculties operating in seven campuses in Durban and in the Midlands. DUT is well known for its outstanding graphic-design school and offers one of only two chiropractic programmes in South Africa.

The University of Zululand offers diploma and degree courses on two campuses at Empangeni and Richards Bay.

The unbundling from the successful Curro group of a separate tertiary entity which listed on the JSE as Stadio Holdings is a good indicator of the growth of the private sector in education. Stadio currently has three institutions: Southern Business School, AFDA (the School for the Creative Economy) and the Embury Institute for Higher Education which has recently opened a campus in Musgrave, Durban. There are six Curro schools in KwaZulu-Natal.

Advtech, the other big private company, has 27 tertiary campuses nationally, in addition to its 78 schools operating under a variety of labels. Advtech operates 10 educational sites in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal, through the national Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other job creation programmes has committed to providing training to marginalised

ONLINE RESOURCES

Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa: www.isasa.org KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education: www.kzneducation.gov.za National Research Foundation: www.nrf.ac.za

SECTOR INSIGHT

Training is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme.

communities to help people become more employable. In 2018, more than 41 000 full-time equivalent jobs and 166 000 work opportunities were offered, and this is set to increase.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges are tasked with bridging the skills gap. TVET colleges are concentrating on 13 trade areas, including bricklayers, millwrights, boilermakers and riggers. KwaZuluNatal has nine such colleges with a total enrolment of about 80 000. R16.5-billion has been allocated by national government to skills development and infrastructure over the medium term.

Coastal KZN TVET College gives students practical experience through facilities such as the Nongalo Industrial Park, where school furniture is repaired, and burglar bars and computer tables are made. The college has several sites on the South Coast and caters for 15 400 students.

Majuba TVET College focuses on engineering as the coal and steel industries are prominent in Newcastle. The Mnambithi TVET College is located in the Battlefields Route tourism area and offers National Diploma courses in tourism, among other qualifications.