1. Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA) Sustainable Green Skills Development in Business, Institutions & Community Dr Raymond Patel CEO merSETA

2. KEY DISCUSSION POINTS The merSETA is leading the “green” SETA initiatives and skills development actions through - 1.A “GREEN” dialogue platform was created (September 2012); 2.A position paper ( January 2013) to frame the merSETA’s developmental approach to green skills with a focus on sustainability; 3.A survey of green activities, innovations and technology in merSETA companies (July to November 2013), commissioned in collaboration with the GIZ; 4.Occupational qualification development processes for renewal energy, inclusive of wind turbine and solar PV technicians (2013/14); 5.Participation in a range of local, national and international forums to promote and synergize green initiatives (ongoing since 2012), and 6.Collaboration agreements for green skills development, focused on artisans and artisanal skills in the green economy (ongoing since 2013).

3. SETTING THE SCENE: STARTING THE “GREEN” DIALOGUE AND POSITIONING merSETA’S APPROACH The “green dialogue” started at a merSETA/GIZ sustainable green skills forum in 2012 The keynote address focused on “Unleashing the future: developing sustainable skills to enhance innovation and productivity” The above concept started to set the scene for merSETA companies, organised labour and communities to engage in the green economy The initial dialogues informed merSETA’s position, specifically aligned to: The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 The Green Economy Accord The White Paper on Post-school Education & training NDSD lll King lll on Corporate Governance, in particular the emphasis on integrated sustainability reporting The Human Resource Development Strategy

4. SURVEY OF THE merSETA’S COMPANIES: GREEN ACTIVITIES, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS (2013/14) a)Why a “green” survey? b)What was the survey approach? c)What specifically was surveyed? d)What could the survey outcomes inform? e)What was the survey response rate of merSETA companies? a)Prior to embarking on occupational qualification development and advocacy, it is important to understand what the “GREEN” status is in industry. b)The Green Maturity Model formed the basis of the survey. This model looks at three key inputs and two key outputs in manufacturing & engineering, namely materials, water and energy input, and waste and emission outputs. c)These factors impact on how people across the job levels are trained in terms of processes and technologies and how training curricula can be designed to improve sustainable practices. d)The survey produced a 10.8% return rate, which is within the norm in quantitative research e)(664 companies responded to the survey questionnaires).

5. The merSETA’s “green” survey outcomes & actions Outcomes As expected, large companies functioning on an international platform, already started to implement significant green technologies, inclusive of water and waste management strategies. However, medium and smaller companies had difficulty to outlay the financial resources to “go green” and although green values were desirable, the know-how lacked. Small companies were mostly in “survival mode”. Actions The first step was to ensure occupational qualification development, advocacy and research & development (R&D) support, which already manifested ((by November 2014) - Two QCTO renewable energy occupational qualifications for Wind Turbine Service Technicians & Solar PV Technicians are near completion (November 2014). The merSETA acted as the Development Quality Partner. The merSETA’s contribution of R20 million to a partnership with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to support R&D in renewable energy and new technologies, the development of an electrical car, as well as a solar-powered golf cart

6. THE merSETA’S “GREEN” ACTIONS CONTINUE SUPPORTING LEARNERS A merSETA agreement worth R2,565,000 with the East London IDZ, aligned to the Eastern Cape’s Sustainable Energy Strategy. The agreement includes training of the first 20 electrical apprentices with additional specialisations in renewable energy (green artisans). A merSETA/EWSETA/False Bay TVET agreement worth R20 million. The inter-SETA/TVET agreement also contributes to community development in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape. A total of 500 learners are trained on solar geyser installations. A partnership between merSETA and the British Council for the development of a curriculum for solar heating and green awareness. The implementation was the Northlink TVET College in collaboration with Gwent College in the UK. The contract value is R200,000. A merSETA agreement worth R20 million with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The agreement includes supporting research and development for renewable energy and new technology, development of an electrical car as well as a solar power golf cart.

7. ADVOCACY AND merSETA’S PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS FORUMS Advocacy The GIZ in partnership with the DHET and Department of Environmental Affairs embarked on “Greening TVET Colleges” campaign. The merSETA and EWSETA were co-opted to participate. Selected TVET Colleges across the country were involved and the process culminated in an electronic “Greening the TVETs Guide”, which has been made available to the merSETA’s career unit and regional offices. Participation The merSETA has been an active participant in various forums, inclusive of :- The National Green Jobs Dialogue, organised by the Department of Environmental Affairs “Green skills in developing countries” during the WorldSkills Conference in Leipzig in 2013 The Eastern Cape’s Green Forum as part of rolling out the province’s Sustainable Green Strategy A “Green” workshop arranged by SEIFSA CHIETA’s “Green Colloquium”

8. REPRESENTATION AND THE WAY FORWARD Representation & Collaboration The merSETA is represented on the Advisory Board of the SA Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC). SARETEC is based at the Bellville campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The merSETA and CPUT is exploring a pilot for Wind Turbine Service Technician occupational qualification where SARETEC will act as the project co- ordinator. In the pipeline…the way forward -Advocacy to include green skills and values in all the new occupational qualifications -Including green sustainability in a collaboration agreement with NUMSA in supporting co-operatives

9. THANK YOU Dr Raymond Patel: CEO Tel: 010 219 3338 Email: ceo@merseta.org.za www.merseta.org.za