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SWAZI MTN HELPS REVAMP UNISWAâ€™S PROGRAMMES

By Majaha Nkonyane | 2018-03-22

Swazi MTN has taken the leading role in helping the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) revamp their programmes to produce relevant ones for the industry.

This was revealed during the graduate development forum that was held at Sibane Hotel.

“This programme is designed to positively influence training curriculum by industry as this plays a key role in the supply of top quality talent, not only for MTN but the country as a whole.

The second pillar of the programme is to help the business identify young Swazi talent from high schools, local and international tertiary institutions,” Swazi MTN Chief Executive Officer Ambrose Dlamini said. The programme was welcomed by UNISWA as they highlighted the need to re-engineer their approach to be aligned with the times.

“There is no better time than this. As an institution, we felt it was time we strengthen the relationship with the industry. Where our students are absorbed, it is time we face reality and tackle all concerns and re-engineer our approach as an institution to be aligned with the times,” Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Mgidi Dlamini said.

The programme is relying on the industry to give feedback to the institution where they are able to raise issues that students may be bringing from the university.

Meanwhile, IPM deputy president Lomkhosi Magagula noted that there was a point where the country in 2010 was short of mechanical engineers.

This was noted as a challenge that UNISWA could easily tackle through their engineering programme. “tertiary institutions play a significant role in ensuring that the skills required by the industry are produced to meet the needs of the labour force with the advancement in technology and the emergence of critical and specialised skills in the labour force.

It is indeed prudent that universities establish strong links with the industry so they can produce the skills required by our industries,” she said.

The Swazi MTN CEO further noted that the programme is also meant to bring collaboration between the university and the corporate sector.

It was also noted that in countries where tertiary institutions are doing well, in terms of producing quality talent, there is a close partnership between training institutions and industry. Adding, Dlamini said academia and industry players need to forge deliberate and impactful partnerships because of the inherent complimentary nature of their existence, and the value that this could potentially add to skills building and talent management. Furthermore, the relationship between training institutions and the industry was noted to be beneficial to students.

“The relations between training institutions and the industry provide the opportunity to establish links where graduates can practice in a real practical situation the skills that they have acquired during their training,” Dlamini said.

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