Sol Plaatje University (SPU) recently launched its Centre for Continuous Professional Development (CCPD). Guests from the business community joined other stakeholders and SPU officials at the official launch during a Business Breakfast in partnership with Kumba Iron Ore at Kimberley’s Flamingo Casino Conference Centre on 8 October 2022.
The CCPD was established to address skills shortages in both the public and private sectors. It offers short learning programmes that will enable individuals to upskill themselves, learn continuously, and receive training in the latest developments in their respective fields of industry to improve their employability and prepare them for promotion and/or career changes.
Justice Steven Majiedt, Chancellor of SPU and a Constitutional Court judge, delivered the keynote address. “We are blessed that we are one of two universities that are children of democracy, and we are in a position to start on a blank page. We want to see professional development as a lifelong goal of institutions of higher education and training,” he said.
Professor Andrew Crouch, SPU Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said, “One of the things that are close to my heart, is to see what we as the university can do in partnership with communities. With the launch of the centre, we can improve the lives of those around us. We want to be an innovative university embedded in community and beyond, and that means we must humanise what we are teaching and researching. We need to develop and contribute towards the human capital of the Northern Cape and invest in talent and upskilling people.”
Mr Mark Everett, Director for Special Projects at SPU, said, “As technology evolves, systems, programmes, and practices change, therefore short learning programmes are critical to refresh skills and training for a competitive edge in the workplace. The short courses are offered through various means, which makes it convenient for participants to take up a short course no matter where they are.”
Dr Pranill Ramchander, Executive Head: Corporate Affairs at Kumba Iron Ore, which has partnered with SPU on the establishment of the centre, delivered a message of support. “Sol Plaatje University is one of our key partners to deliver on the intention to educate and train our youth in skills shortages in the province,” he said. “We believe that the university can help reach far more young people in our partnership, which dates to the establishment of the university in 2014.”
The short courses will be offered via various platforms such as face-to-face scheduled learning, blended learning courses, remote and online courses, to aid accessibility regardless of where the participants are based. All courses are accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Council on Higher Education (CHE) and will be monitored rigorously to ensure a quality learning experience.
