South Africa – sustainability becomes the central object of cooperation
27.05.2024
The main focus of the development strategies in South Africa is on just social and ecological transformation, and this formed the core of bilateral vocational education and training cooperation with the country in 2023.
The topic of sustainability is the main thread which runs through cooperation with South Africa in 2023. The emphasis is on endeavouring to reconcile economic, social and ecological responsibility. This was also the object of a GOVET-arranged study trip to Berlin involving a fifteen-strong South African delegation which took place at the start of June 2023. GOVET executed the study trip as part of the bilateral cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Partners from the fields of education and training policy and research and from vocational schools gained an insight into the implementation of sustainability objectives in vocational education and training by companies, chambers, guilds and vocational schools. A well-founded exchange was facilitated by a bilateral workshop featuring a broad-based national group of participants and an input from the programme “Developing sustainability in VET” of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The workshop also served the purpose of networking specialist communities for sustainability and VET topics from both countries.
Vocational education and training for a just transformation
The issue of a just social and ecological transformation, or a “just transition”, is at the heart of the development strategies in southern Africa. Leading southern African researchers are investigating how initial and continuing VET can encourage a sustainable and green transformation. At the same time, there is also a focus on countering existing social inequality and the extremely high level of youth unemployment. These topics were debated during GOVET’s international presentation at the re:publica 2023 (a prestigious event in Germany which looks at issues of societal relevance). Dr. Ralf Hermann, Head of GOVET, chaired a talk on “Just Transition and TVET” with two speakers from southern Africa, Dr. Presha Ramsarup, who manages the Centre for Researching Education and Labour at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and Dr. Charles Chikunda from the University of Zimbabwe, who is currently coordinating the UNESCO programme “Sustainability Starts with Teachers”.
The focus on vocational education and training and sustainability strikes a chord with current social developments in both countries. It is of equal interest to South Africa and Germany to exchange ideas on the design of a socially just transformation of economy and on vocational skills in key sectors. We will intensify this in the future.
Dr. Ralf Hermann, Head of GOVET and project manager in the bilateral cooperation with South Africa
As far as GOVET is concerned, the main focuses of the bilateral cooperation in vocational education and training are on strengthening teaching staff and on developing work-based training standards. A particular emphasis is being placed on competencies for the digital and sustainable transformation of work and society. There is interest too in exchanges on competencies in the area of green hydrogen.
The introduction of a vocational pathway to the “Three Stream Model” was also a field of consultancy during the past year, with a focus on introducing vocational branches at South African secondary schools. GOVET is collaborating with the German Embassy and with German schools abroad within this context.
Bilateral networking at a local level
Regular networking between stakeholders is crucial to the success of the bilateral cooperation. The BMBF and GOVET thus undertook a journey to Johannesburg/Pretoria and Cape Town at the end of June in the lead-up to the Binational Commission. Visits were paid to the DHET and to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as well as to several colleges, VET research institutions, sector authorities, and German partner institutions.
Background
The BMBF has been cooperating with its South African partner ministry on the basis of a Joint Declaration of Intent since 2013. The Joint Declaration of Intent was extended at the end of June 2023. Cooperation between several federal departments on vocational education and training and employment also formed a separate chapter of the Binational Commission, which convened at the end of June under the leadership of the foreign ministers from both countries. GOVET was materially involved in shaping the content structure.