Future ready - state-of-the-art video conference facility

By Roshin Schmidt, issued by False Bay College

12 Aug 2020

False Bay TVET College, Westlake Campus, Centre for Specialisation for Mechanical Fitting is one of the first recipients of a state-of-the-art video conferencing facility, alongside Tshwane South TVET College, Pretoria West Campus, Centre of Specialisation for Mechanical Fitting.

(Left to right) Front row: Karin Hendricks False Bay TVET College acting principal with Ophelia Collopen. Back row: Jacqueline Layman, Jyothis Pallath, Nasir Solarie and Eugene Vermaak.

Part of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) National Open Learning Systems Project, this addition will facilitate information exchange through video and multimedia. This sub-project was made possible as part of a bilateral agreement between the governments of India and South Africa to build the infrastructure in TVET Colleges. The collaboration is a tribute and legacy project of the late Ghandi and Mandela centenary.

The total investment from the Indian government in the region of $4m (R60m) will be utilised for the fitting and supplying of top-shelf equipment, services, facilities, maintenance and training, ensuring the video conferencing facilities are equipped for seamless utilisation.

Embracing the changing landscape of education due to the 4th industrial revolution, the video conferencing facilities will build the capacity to share, collaborate and massify the implementation of the Centres of Specialisation projects.

The video conference facility capabilities will enable a lecturer, subject expert or guest speaker the ability to interact real-time with students located in multiple locations via audio or video, while using multimedia or digital tools such as the interactive whiteboards. Functionality will also include the ability to have presenters speak from equipped classrooms or individual computers at any location via the internet. High-quality microphones in each classroom will enable people to be clearly heard via the conference system, from any location in each of the classrooms.

Once installation handover inspections are completed at the pilot campuses, phase two and three in the expansion rollout of these technologies to be deployed at the 26 other TVET colleges with Centres of Specialisation.

False Bay TVET College would like to thank the Indian government and representative Mr Jyothis Pallath for their invaluable investment and SIEFA project manager Mr Paulos Mahlangu for facilitating this project.

About Roshin Schmidt

Roshin Schmidt is the Marketing Officer at False Bay TVET College

False Bay College offers quality, accredited, vocational, occupational and skills programmes in a range of fields, designed with Industry to meet the skills shortages of South Africa.