Sedibeng TVET College has officially launched its Schneider Electric workshop, F’SASEC, at its Vereeniging campus in the Vaal Triangle, a sophisticated training facility featuring world-class benches generously donated by the Schneider Electric Foundation. This flagship facility marks an important step forward in technical education and industry-aligned skills development.

The new facility forms part of the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) network, which brings together leading institutions across the region, including Don Bosco Malawi, Don Bosco Mozambique, and South African institutions such as the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Sedibeng TVET College Sebokeng Campus, College of Cape Town (CCT), Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) and Ukufunda Youth Development.

The Schneider Electric workshop features training benches, designed by Amtec Techniquip in collaboration with Schneider Electric, which provide students with practical experience in both domestic and industrial electrical applications.

Speaking at the event, Zanélle Dalglish, Global Leader: Training & Education Affairs at Schneider Electric, highlighted the company’s long-standing commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry through innovation and practical training. “At the Sedibeng TVET College in Vereeniging, over 1,400 students have already been trained on Schneider Electric equipment—while at the Sebokeng campus in Vanderbijlpark, that number exceeds 3,500. This remarkable milestone speaks to the lasting strength of our partnership.

“The new Schneider Electric workshop not only meets global standards but also provides students with an environment that hones real-world problem-solving skills, ensuring they are workplace-ready and prepared for the jobs of the future,” she says.

The unveiling of the new workshop builds on a journey that began in 2012 at the Vaal University of Technology with a Centre of Excellence implemented and evolved to include others like the Sedibeng’s Sebokeng campus, at first with a small domestic wiring laboratory and has since grown into multiple facilities, including industrial wiring and automation labs at the college. 

The Vereeniging workshop is building on this initiative to provide access to world-class practical electrical training for South African youth.

Dr MG Mothabo, Principal of Sedibeng TVET College, expressed his pride in the partnership and the opportunities it creates for students: “The Schneider Electric Workshop offers real-world and practical scenarios and problem-solving that are invaluable when pursuing a career in the electrical industry. The facility s world-class and ensures that our students are well on their way to successful careers in this all-important field.” 

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) also welcomed the initiative, noting that partnerships of this nature are essential to addressing challenges such as skills development, infrastructure, and industry alignment in South Africa’s TVET colleges.  Representatives from the French Embassy in South Africa and the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI) also attended this remarkable milestone.