UDEXpress UITENHAGE DESPATCH
DESPATCH / SUNRIDGE EXCHANGE now also online at www.whatsmyhobby.com
NEXT TO
600 x PS2 200 x Ps3 200 x XBOX Ps4 x 100 Xbox1 x 100
1000 x DVD 100 x Ps1 200 X PSP 10, 000 x BOOKS
Toys, Gifts
1000 x CD 1000 x PC 20 x Wii
From R30
DR RABIE STREET 041 9333 999 KRAGGA KAMMA ROAD 041 360 1109 X1UC8DTD-UX290318
30 000 COPIES WEEKLY
THURSDAY March 29, 2018 | 0 041 992 5639 | Fax 086 457 4375 | www.udexpress.co.za
EDITOR: HEILIE COMBRINCK
EMC students to gain skills in China EASTCAPE Midlands College (EMC) has been identified as one of 15 Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to send 8 students to China on a 12 month funded international training programme. The programme comprise the study fields Energy and Water & Sanitation and is fully funded and supported by the Chinese Culture & International Education Exchange Centre together with Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), a skills development authority serving the energy and water sectors. “The main purpose of the programme is to create opportunities for the students to gain work
experience through integrating them in a real work learning methodology that is utilised by the top 500 Chinese companies,” said Roxy von Gordon, Manager of Eastcape Midlands TVET College’s Career Development Centre. The programme aims to promote investment opportunities in South Africa, to support job creation, expose TVET students to international standards, enhance TVET students’ work ethics in order for them to become global citizens and to provide TVET students with a competitive advantage by exposing them to international machinery which will help them to showcase their talents during World Skills competitions. The eight students who will be leaving for China today, come from EMC’s Electrical Engineer-
ing programme, and were selected based on results, attendance, attitude and overall conduct. “This is a great opportunity for EMC’s students as they will not only receive systematic and scientific training in a University or College, but they will also be exposed to the Chinese language, culture and skills,” said Von Gordon. Once the students have completed their internships - which consist of completing their studies at a college or university in China and working within Chinese manufacturing companies - they will return with internationally recognised certificates from both the college and employer which will strategically place them in the job market with internationally recognised work skills for their sector.
“China has made rapid advances in areas such as education, infrastructure and high-tech manufacturing, and is now in some areas a world leader in technology. “EMC therefore requires the support from local industry and the surrounding communities, to assist their students with sponsorships in the form of electronic devices which will greatly assist with the successful completion of the international training programme. “EMC is very proud to send the eight students off to China, trusting that they will gain as much knowledge and experience as possible, and return to the many opportunities that await them as a result of such a programme,” said Von Gordon.
IPTS wheels finally rolling in Metro T
HE long-awaited Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) buses finally started operating on Monday. This follows after complimentary bus tickets were distributed to the public by Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Athol Trollip and MMC for Roads and Transport Rano Kayser at Cleary Park last Friday. Commuters can obtain complimentary tickets at the Cleary Park customer care centre and the Mfanasekhaya Gqobose Building (formerly Eric Tindale Building) in Govan Mbeki Avenue, which can be used until April 9. The complimentary ticket will allow commuters to have access to 12 free trips. From April 10, standard fare bus tickets will be available at R10 each.
“This is our way of getting the public to experience this transportation system, so we can receive valuable feedback from them,” said Kayser. Last week Monday, the MMC officially handed over 25 IPTS buses to a local operator, Spectrum Alert, at the Cleary Park bus depot. Commenting on the postponement of the roll-out date for the bus system following several years of delays in getting the project off the ground, Kayser said the moment for the IPTS buses had finally arrived with the last piece of the puzzle now in place. “It was a really hard and bumpy road but we managed to stay on course. “I have made a commitment that we will not deviate from legislative requirements
and accordingly the city now mandates the industry to run the IPTS on its behalf,” said Kayser. According to him, taxi drivers and guardjies (previously responsible for collecting money and operating taxi doors) had been trained and were now qualified Code 14 drivers and many more job opportunities would follow. This will include security services, maintenance and mechanical jobs among others. “We would, however, like the beneficiaries of these jobs to come primarily from the taxi industry,” said Kayser. Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said that the buses would service four main routes which included Cleary Park to the CBD terminal.
“It was a really hard and bumpy road but we managed to stay on course. - RANO KAYSER, MMC FOR ROADS AND TRANSPORT
The other three routes will include suburbs within the northern areas. “Police officers and armed forces, who can present their appointment certificates as proof, will be able to commute for free, while pensioners and students with valid pension or student cards will also get a 20% discount on the normal fare,” said Kayser.
X1UC7MYW-UX290318