Coega intern programme enrols 185 new graduates
Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has an ongoing intern programme that develops young people in the Eastern Cape and other provinces to equip young professionals with employable skills.
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It has enrolled 185 new graduates into internship programmes - 166 in the Eastern Cape and 19 in KwaZulu-Natal - of which 68 have already moved into permanent employment within the organisation. In addition, the 18-month internship programme offers these graduates on-the-job-training by linking them with mentors who have extensive experience in their respective disciplines.
"CDC plays a pivotal role in the development of young people in the Eastern Cape and the country at large by introducing training initiatives that are aimed at favourably positioning aspiring professionals for employment in the corporate world," says Zola Ngoma, CDC's unit head of Performance and Talent Management.
"The main objective of the internship programme is to equip the interns with relevant market related skills that improve their marketability with prospective employers," adds Ntombozuko Mbuzwana, a CDC performance monitoring and evaluation officer.
UCT assistance
In conjunction with the University of Cape Town (UCT) Information Systems Department, CDC offers the Business Analysis and Systems Analysis (BASA) course, with the end qualification being a post-graduate BASA diploma (PG DIP BASA, NQF Level 8).
The BASA training programme is offered part-time over a one-year period during the student's internship contract. Candidates are formally assessed through their submission of business cases, monthly assignments, oral presentations and formal exams in line with the academic and assessment calendars at UCT.
Project management, driver's licenses, communication skills added
CDC also advances its graduates-in-training by providing Prince 2 project management training. During the 14/15 financial year, 70 interns received the training. It also offers interns the opportunity to obtain their driver's licences through the flagship driver-training programme. More than 60 interns have obtained their licenses in the past year. Training is offered in communications, and more than 30 interns were trained in business etiquette in the past financial year.
"We are passionate about development and believe that internship and skills development play a key role - not only in the company's progress but also in contributing to economic development," concludes Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC head of Marketing and Communications.
