Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) are celebrating the success of their skills development partnership, designed to prepare a new generation of engineers for the motoring industry.
The collaboration, established in 2018, has already provided hundreds of students in Mechatronics, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with hands-on industry experience at IMSAf—s manufacturing plant. This gives students the chance to link classroom theory with practical applications, equipping them to enter the motoring world with confidence.
Professor Theo van Niekerk, Head of the Mechatronics Department at NMU, said the partnership was delivering strong results: —Over the years, we have been able to empower Nelson Mandela University engineering students who have come through our system to develop innovative solutions, thereby building practical job-ready skills. This is largely owing to our collaboration with Isuzu Motors South Africa through our Chair of Mechatronics, which has allowed us to bridge the gap between academia and industry ensuring a seamless integration of our graduates into the world of work.—
Looking to the future, the goal is to reach 400 students by 2030. Celestin Ndhlovu, IMSAf Executive Vice President for Corporate Services, said: —Our partnership with Nelson Mandela University is a critical part of our long-term vision to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the automotive industry in South Africa. We are proud of the progress made, and we are committed to reaching our goal of impacting 400 students by 2030.—
The collaboration stands as a strong example of how partnerships between universities and manufacturers can shape the future of the motoring sector while addressing the country—s skills gap.
