Staff Reporter
The Consulate of the United States of America in South Africa says it is looking at possible ways it could work with the Central University of Technology (CUT) in producing students that that are ready for the job market.
The newly appointed US consul general Vincent Spera said this when he visited the Free State institution on Thursday.
He said the United States has numerous programmes aimed at ensuring students are taught entrepreneurial skills and exposed to the real work environment at an early stage so that they won’t struggle when they enter the working world.
“From a policy perspective, investment perspective, (we look at) how can we get the business community and the academic community working together so that when young people come up through school, they are learning real world practical skills that will lead them to meaningful jobs and meaningful careers rather than the traditional academic background whereby you get a job and the job requires you to go through training,” said Spera, referring to the American initiatives he hope could be implemented by the university.
“So, part of coming here is to hear more about what you are doing, learn about it and see it first-hand.
“But also, part of coming here is to look for new opportunities . . . not just in the formal way through grants . . . or exchanges, but other informal ways that we can connect . . . we bring speakers here, we do events with your students participating.
“So, it’s partly to learn and partly to explore the environment.”
The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) which deals with 3-D printing as well as the Centre for Sustainable SMART Cities and the iGym Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and ITIKI made presentations on their latest projects.
CUT vice-chancellor and principal Professor Henk de Jager said the university was ready to work with partners who could help them improve in the area of innovation and produce better students.
He said CUT is an important partner to the US consulate and the visit by Spera was critical to building and maintaining partner relationships.
The US consulate is a branch of the US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa.
It provides US consular services in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North-West provinces.
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