3.6. Learning Programmes: Strategic Projects

DG-RESEARCH FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR 2021-2022 FINANCIAL YEAR Commitments R1 578 645.00

3.6. LEARNING PROGRAMMES: STRATEGIC PROJECTS

The Learning Programmes: Strategic Projects unit administered seven (7) strategic projects during the year under review. These projects are:

1. Bursaries (for unemployed and employed learners); 2. Work experience (including vacation work); 3. Internship programmes; 4. Management and Executive Development Programmes Support; 5. Higher Education Institutions Lecturer Support; 6. Workplace Coaches; and 7. Candidacy programme.

The table below reflects programmes, including targets and qualitative achievements which the MQA committed to rolling out during the period under review:

Project Name

Number of graduates who enter an internship programme per annum Annual Targets Quantitative Achievements % Achievements

900 818 91%

Number of undergraduates who enter a workplace experience programme per annum Number of undergraduates who complete a workplace experience programme per annum Number of HDSA MMS employees who enter a management development programme per annum 550 550 100%

370 471 127%

160 171 107%

Number of HDSA MMS employees who complete a management development programme per annum Number of HDSA Higher Education and Training (HET) lecturers who enter a lecturer development programme per annum 50 130 260%

30 20 67%

Number of unemployed learners awarded a bursary per annum 1 000 1 130 113% Number of unemployed learners completing a bursary per annum 700 362 52% Number of employed learners awarded a bursary per annum 50 55 110% Number of HDSA MMS learners who entered a candidacy programme per annum 50 26 52% Number of coaches placed within workplaces to support employers with on-the-job mentoring and coaching activities per annum 100 100 100%

The Bursary Support Project forms part of the MQA learner support strategy which is in line with the Mining Charter and the objectives of the National Skills Development Plan. The project mainly supports students who are pursuing careers within the mining and minerals sector.

BURSARY INTAKE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• During the financial year under review, the set annual target of 1 000 unemployed bursars intake was exceeded. A total of 1 130 unemployed bursars from universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges benefited from the MQA Bursary

Scheme. • A total of 362 unemployed bursars who completed their qualification. • A total of 55 employed bursars also benefited from the MQA Bursary Scheme. • The MQA Bursary unit has entered into a memorandum of agreement with some of the higher learning institutions to streamline payment processes to institutions and avoid the random transfer of funds to learners.

3.6.2. WORK EXPERIENCE

The MQA supports learners in obtaining their university of technology qualifications by enabling them to gain the required practical work experience component of this regulated training. University learners were also assisted with vacation work placement. During the reporting year, a total of 550 out of a set annual target of 550 students were placed within mining companies for workplace experiential training.

For the year under review, 417 learners completed their work experience programmes.

3.6.3 INTERNSHIPS

The project provides structured work experience for young unemployed graduates from higher education institutions to complement the scarce and/or critical skills qualifications required by the mining and minerals sector. During the reporting period, 818 graduates out of a target of 900 were placed at different mining companies to gain work experience.

3.6.4. MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The aim of the project is to facilitate the development of mining and minerals sector employees in the area of supervision or management to support the transformation targets of the sector. A total of 171 out of a target of 160 learners were supported to study towards management and executive development programmes in the year under review.

3.6.5. HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS LECTURER SUPPORT

This programme focused on assisting the four (4) universities achieve employment equity and transformation by supporting the development of historically disadvantaged lectures. During the year under review a total of 20 lecturers were supported in the mining-related departments of the participating universities.

The following universities participated:

University No of Lecturers University of Johannesburg 7 University of Pretoria 3 University of Cape Town 7 University of South Africa 3 TOTAL 20

3.6.6. WORKPLACE COACHES

The project is aimed at providing employers with additional coaches which will assist with the training of learners who are registered on various MQA funded projects. These coaches are individuals that previously worked in the sector for number of years. They are now retired or out of employment and are being brought back to the sector to transfer knowledge and skills to the new entrants. During the reporting period, 100 coaches were engaged with a number of employers.

3.6.7. CANDIDACY PROGRAMME

The project is aimed at providing structured work experience for unemployed and employed graduates from higher education institutions who would like to attain the Government Certificate of Competency, Mine Surveyor Certificate and Mine Managers Certificate. During the reporting period, 26 graduates out of a target of 50 were funded at different mining companies.