The South African Fluid Power Association recently announced that a number of its qualifications have been registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). These include the Fluid Power Qualification at National Qualification Framework (NQF) Levels 3, 4, and 5.
According to Willem Gijzelaar, SAFPA president, one of the organisation's main objectives is to foster and promote education, training and original research in the pneumatics and hydraulics field.
"We find ourselves in the same situation as many other industries in experiencing a severe skills shortage. As an organisation comprising industry members, we are well poised to begin addressing this shortage and this recent acknowledgement by SAQA underscores our focus."
Gijzelaar notes that SAFPA council member, Russell Gill, was instrumental in driving the initiative and continues to play a key role.
SAFPA is working with MERSETA, the manufacturing, engineering and related services SETA, to establish a plan of action to institute the structures and systems needed to facilitate the successful implementation of the qualifications in the industry.
"SAFPA and MERSETA need to discuss the registration of training providers, assessors and moderators, as well as SAFPA's role in the reviewing and moderating process. We will also be working with the Standards Generating Groups to review the training and assessment guidelines regarding the new unit standards," says Gill.
Gill remarks that the all-important NQF Level 2 will also be included later this year. "Level 2 is merging with the same level of the General Mechanical Artisan qualification. What this means is that mechanical engineering artisans will complete a general Level 2 before selecting speciality career paths, one of which is fluid power."
SAFPA aims to raise professional standards within the pneumatics and hydraulics industries, to promote the exchange of ideas, experience and knowledge between its members, and to encourage companies to establish their own training facilities guided by the association's knowledge and experience.
| Tel: | +27 11 061 5000 |
| Fax: | 086 589 2158 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.safpa.org.za |
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