“Statistics report that the number of unemployed people in South Africa stands at 4.165 million – terrifying indeed,” said Isaac Tlhabadira of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, who addressed students of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment attending the launch of the Fourth Employability Improvement Training Project at the Pretoria Campus, yesterday.

The course is designed for knowledge-based training but not skill training. It aims at improving the awareness of employment demand of the industry and the readiness of employment for the students at university and graduates as a part of career guidance.

“One of the most unfortunate situations that a person can go through is the thought of going to university for four years, sometimes longer, only to get themselves caught in a position where they are unemployed for several months or even several years. This is the reason why I’m looking forward to this training,” said Lucas Barns, one of the students who graced the event.

Invitation was sent out to final-year students in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering who displayed eagerness for the training. Classroom-based lectures are scheduled to take place until 31 March 2010 and campus-based practicals will also take place this month until April 2010. In addition, students will go through company-based lectures taking place at designated companies.

Isaac Tlhabadira encouraged students to get involved in the valuable project. “You should not add on to the unemployment statistics of South Africa. Help yourself while you are still students. Arm yourself with skills offered at this training, consequently when you graduate the chances of unemployment will be slim,” he emphasized.