Minister Manamela said SETAS plays an important role in bridging the gap between educational institutions and employers.
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged higher education institutions to align their courses with the demands of the labor market, warning that South Africa's skills system must adapt to rapid technological change.
Speaking at the FoodBev SETA Research Colloquium on Tuesday, Manamela said universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges cannot lag behind.
He emphasized that research should directly shape qualifications, funding priorities and workplace training opportunities.
Manmela said, “Research is not an academic exercise confined to educational institutions; it is a strategic instrument for economic development, social change and regional advancement.”
Aligning competencies with industry needs
Manmela said Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) play a vital role in bridging the gap between education institutions and employers.
He pointed to research produced by SETAS, including labor market intelligence, sector skills plans and vocational studies, as a key tool in guiding investment in training.
“The work produced by FoodBev SETA… provides important insights needed to guide investment in skills, inform policy direction and strengthen the accountability of our education and training systems,” he said.
He said his department is working to ensure that research is directly linked to skills planning, economic priorities and labor market demands.
“Our focus is on building a capable, developmental state underpinned by high-quality research, responsive competency and an integrated skills system,” Manmela said.
Automation is reshaping the world of work
The minister warned that automation, digitalisation and advanced manufacturing are redefining production processes and changing the skills required by employers.
“We meet at a time when the world of work is being reshaped by rapid technological change,” he said.
“If South Africa is to remain globally competitive, our skills development system must be agile, future-focused and responsive to these changes.”
He called for stronger collaboration between industry, universities and TVET colleges. This is essential to ensure that curricula and workplace-based learning opportunities respond to current and emerging needs.
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Entrepreneurship and Youth Opportunities
Manmela also highlighted entrepreneurship at the heart of inclusive growth, especially in the food and beverages manufacturing sector.
“The future of the food and beverages manufacturing sector will not only be secured by technological capability, but by our ability to foster innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial ethos among our youth, our TVET college students, our university graduates and our workforce,” he said.
He said empowering youth to develop enterprises and create jobs is essential to strengthening local value chains and driving economic growth.
Partnership to tackle skills mismatch
Manmela acknowledged existing challenges, including skills mismatch and youth unemployment, and said these could not be addressed in isolation.
“These challenges…cannot be addressed in isolation,” he said, calling for collaboration between government, industry, labour, SETAS and education institutions.
He described the symposium as the beginning of a “sustained and research-based journey” to strengthen the post-school education and training system. This will help put the sector in a long-term competitive position.
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