Ten years of Academy graduates
The 10th-year class to graduate from the African Academy
for Computer Assisted Engineering celebrated the occasion
with the best results achieved to date.
In the day class, 59 of the 60 students graduated
and were all successfully placed in employment. The night class (which
comprised 22 students studying the national certificate in drawing
office practice and 8 students studying certain subjects only) achieved
a 100 % pass rate. With a total of 90 students in the day and night
classes, this means that the class of 2004 was the top year, not only
for the greatest number of technically-qualified individuals supplied
to industry, but also in the number of students enrolled.
Now in its 11th year, the Academy can look back
with pride to its first year of operation in 1995 when 19 of its 20
students completed the course successfully. Over the past 10 years
it
has achieved an overall 97 % success rate in placing its graduates
in employment, an achievement that underlines its commitment to offering
a holistic approach to skills upliftment in the country. This approach
encompasses both world-class training, and assisting students to find
employment after graduation.
Kenny Fick, Chief Executive Manager, Department
of Labour,
Gauteng South, and the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, said
that his organisation was proud to be associated with the Academy.
With South Africa on the threshold of a skills revolution, he emphasised
that skills upliftment must be demand-led, and be based on recognised
and accredited training initiatives such as that provided by the Academy.
The top student of the 2004 day class was Renier Naude, with the ‘top
project’ award going to Denzel Thomas.
The award for the ‘most improved student’
went to Jacques Odendaal, the ‘top merit’ award went to
Zukiswa Koto, the ‘top female student’ to Jani Janse van
Rensburg, and the ‘top
alumni industry’ to Marcelle du Plessis. The ‘top night
students’ were Jacques Jacobs and Graeme Smith.
The African Academy is registered as a non-profit
trust funded by industry and development agencies, with BATEMAN carrying
the overall responsibility for the continuity of purpose and existence
of the Academy, ensuring that the Academy is staffed by the best academic
staff available and that the facilities keep pace with developments
in CAD and other computer technology.
The Academy is registered with the Department of
Education as a national examinations centre. The curriculum fulfils
the requirements of the N4 and N5 drawing-office practice syllabus
and is accredited by the SA Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the
Institute of Draughtsmen and the City and Guilds of London. It currently
covers mechanical, building, structural, electrical, piping and civil
draughting; life skills; the fundamentals of design; and 3D CAD. The
approach is to bridge the gap between academic training and the practical
requirements of the employer market.
To qualify for admission candidates, drawn from
disadvantaged backgrounds, require an N3 qualification or matriculation
certificate with mathematics, science and technical drawing. Selection
of students is done on merit and, while a nominal tuition fee is charged,
no eligible student is turned away because of an inability to pay
the fee.
For further information, please contact Debbie Prinsloo,
Academy Administration and Operations Manager, on +27-11-892-1415
or email aact@iafrica.com.
