Technical and vocational education and training college Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) opened an electrical laboratory, and the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) Centre of Excellence at its Brickfields Road Campus, in Uitenhage, in the Eastern Cape.

This is owing to EMC's partnership with electrical equipment and automation company Schneider Electric and youth skills development organisation the Schneider Electric Foundation.

The laboratory equips electrical apprentices who are enrolled in the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) programme with hands-on experience in advanced electrical and electronic systems.

Training is undertaken on equipment donated by the Schneider Electric Foundation and Schneider Electric, EMC says.

“Our students train on Schneider Electric’s equipment. These aren’t generic training panels; they’re the exact systems used in industry today. This gives them unparalleled confidence and competence from day one in a job,” says EMC Artisan and Technician training manager Thareef Bloew.

This training also aligns with the QCTO Electrician qualification, which is fundamentally built around the pillars of Industry 4.0.

“Smart grids, Internet of Things integration, advanced automation and energy efficiency are core to our curriculum, and Schneider Electric’s technology and expertise allow us to deliver this curriculum authentically. Our students are working with it daily,” he says.

The centre has been outfitted with advanced training equipment, including combination motor starter trainers; three-phase variable speed drive (VSD) trainers; programmable logic controller (PLC) / human-machine interface (HMI) trainers; and domestic household trainers.

These systems will support practical learning aligned with the registered QCTO electrical apprenticeship qualification, thereby ensuring learners are trained in line with the current demands of energy sector.

EMC’s School of Occupational Training delivers apprenticeships and industry-aligned skills programmes, and will now also offer learners hands-on training with the latest technology in electrical and electronic systems, the college adds.

There’s an urgent need to equip young professionals with future-ready capabilities and Schneider Electric is addressing this by embedding its solutions directly into learning environments, says Schneider Electric Training and Education Affairs global leader Zanélle Dalglish.

“This practical exposure not only enhances technical proficiency, but also reinforces our commitment to preparing the next generation of talent for the energy and digital sectors,” she says.

“I like the Schneider Electric panels because they allow us to explore new technology; particularly industrial automation. You can write your PLC and visualise operations on your HMI, it’s an efficient and industrial solution,” says EMC third-year apprentice Sivikele Ndzwaiba.

“The PLC-HMI training panel teaches us how to monitor different variables in a factory setting. It’s not just technical know-how; it’s insight into the industry of tomorrow,” says EMC third-year apprentice Stephan Esterhuizen.

Meanwhile, the collaboration also includes train-the-trainer programmes to upskill EMC facilitators, and access to Schneider Electric’s Energy University, which is a complementary digital learning platform.

The partnership also provides EMC with technical support and global best practice sharing, and peer collaboration with other F’SASEC institutions across Southern Africa.