Annual review of the vocational training partnership in South Africa

2020 started very well. Then the outbreak of the Corona crisis confronted the project team with major challenges. Thanks to creative ideas, motivated partners and the switch to digital, activities in South Africa were able to continue.

At the very beginning of the project, Volker Falch, Head of the International Division, and Marleen Winter, Project Manager of the VET Partnership in South Africa, were able to travel to Johannesburg and discuss the project goals and activities for 2020 together with partners and stakeholders. This was the successful kick-off for an intensive phase of networking and planning. The project infrastructure was laid, the first events planned and prepared. Then in march the shock came, worldwide Corona lockdowns made the work difficult. Particularly South Africa was hit hard by the Corona crisis. Entry for travelers from Germany was banned. This of course also affected trainers, facilitators and the project management of bbw. All events were cancelled. The schools in South Africa were closed and contact with partners was initially impossible. Nevertheless the project team managed to turn the crisis into an opportunity.  All communication was transferred to digital platforms. Thus a project group was founded in MS Teams, through which direct contact was established with the teachers of the TVET Colleges. Soon after first project meetings and presentations were held in MS teams. At the same time, the participating TVET colleges received the necessary IT equipment. In autumn the first training courses for basic training in mechatronics could take place in blended learning format. Through the combination of a virtual classroom and practical exercises while complying with the hygiene concept, the teachers were able to establish a direct link between theory and practice and apply what they had learned. Next year the project will increasingly focus on networking schools with businesses - if not yet possible live, then digitally.