Housing in Southern Africa October 2015

Industry Buzz, Events & Products

Funding for SAPITI

This includes all high-technology equipment and studios to facilitate inter-active video conferencing tu- ition in multi-faceted Coatings Tech- nology. “This will allow education to complement electronic face-to-face tuition. CHIETA has also funded spe- cialised laboratory equipment as well as equipment for practical training, extensive tuition material, fittings, office equipment, computerised student data bases and an electronic assessment question bank.” Spence says that government’s recognition of the need for training in the coatings sector, coupled with the upliftment of skills and jobopportuni- ties the new training is great news. “The coatings industry has trav- elled a long road with CHIETA, con- tinuously improving relations and mutual understanding along the way, now culminating in this vital funding. The industry and CHIETA now have total consensus as far as training is concerned and we are im- mensely grateful for the opportunity to reduce the critical skills shortage in the industry. It endorses the fact that both theMinister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blaze Nzimande, and CHIETA Acting Ceo, Ayesha Itz- kin, understand the importance of industry-specific training. The news of the grant has been received with gratification by all SAPMA members and our retail members will also ben- efit from the new training,” he says. Mandy Linossi, SAPITI Training Administrator, said: “The new web- based training to be offered at the Centre will enable SAPITI to raise the Pandor said, “The additional women research chairs were not quota ap- pointments, but impressive candi- dates of a high calibre.” Established in 2006 by the Depart- ment of Science and Technology (DST) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF), SARChI is a government human capital de- velopment intervention to strengthen and improve the scientific research and innovation capacity of South African public universities. ■

Cement & Concrete, Doors, Windows, Floors & Walls, Roofing, Ceilings, Insulation & Cladding To advertise contact Brenda Grossmann on 011 622 4770 or email brendag@crown.co.za Our Next Issue H O U S I N G in Southern Africa Plans have already been drawn up for the building of the Training Centre and construction work is expected to start soon. It is hoped that the Centre will open its doors early next year. The Centre will have access to the internationally-respected British Coatings Federation (BCF) training modules and will offer technical tuition at advanced levels as well as for non-technical industry staff to improve their knowledge of coatings. SAPITI’s Surface Coatings Tech- nology Course is aimed at a vari- ety of operations in the coatings industry including staff working in QC laboratories, technical sales representatives and raw material supplier representatives. The course is also suitable for staff with careers focussed on product development and formulation, technical support, trouble shooting and problem solv- ing. For further information contact SAPMA on 011 615 1195 or go to www.sapma.org.za ■ standard of professionalism, technol- ogy and practical knowledge of sales and advisory staff in the retail market. It will provide the retail market with the training it now urgently needs to complywithConsumer ProtectionAct legislation.”

T he funding will be allocated for high tech equipment and ac- cessories equipment for the SA PaintingManufacturing Association’s training arm SAPITI. Deryck Spence, Executive Director of SAPMA says that CHIETA approved a discretionary grant for the operational require- ments of the new Training Centre. The South African coatings industry has been given a major boost by the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) allocating funding for the new SA Paint Industry Training Institute (SAPITI) centre in Bedfordview. T he 42 new research chairs, awarded to local women re- searchers, has increased the total number of chairs under the South African Research Chairs Initia- tive (SARChI) to 197. Making the announcement recent- ly, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said so far SARChI had involved mostly men, with four out of five research chairs going to male professors. “We have 42 new female research professors.” Minister

42 new women research professors

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October 2015