Launching new Nuffic Orange Knowledge Projects in Tanzania and South Africa

We look back on two successful launches of new Nuffic projects in Tanzania and South Africa. MSMs Project Manager Hans Nijhoff was present in both countries to officially start the projects together with the project partners.

MSM in collaboration with an international consortium and the Water Institute and Faculty of Agriculture at Stellenbosch University launched a 3-year project to strengthen skills of staff and students of six TVET colleges. The official start of the project at the end of September was well attended and an informative day for the project partners. One of the highlights of the day was a poetry show on the project performed by youth from the townships. These youngsters are being trained by Stellenbosch University on how to use water sustainably.

Combining agriculture growth and sustainable & equitable water use
The project “Strengthening skills of TVET staff and students for optimizing water usage & climate smart agriculture in South Africa” combines the promotion of agricultural growth and sustainable & equitable water use. The focus will be on educating young people in the field of optimizing water usage & climate smart agriculture.

Six TVET colleges (Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, Boland College, Vhembe TVET College, Motheo TVET College, Nkangala TVET College and Northern Cape Rural TVET College) will be capacitated to introduce a new national occupational qualification, with different modules and curricula, that speaks to both agriculture and water students.

Because optimizing water usage & climate smart agriculture is a highly complex field, the latest technical knowhow is brought in by Dutch content experts (Acacia Water and Q-Point), combined with the expertise in designing competency-based education in TVETs of CINOP and MSM. The consortium under the lead of MSM will support Stellenbosch University, which has a long track record as neutral implementer of new occupational standards at TVETs in SA, to do the same for in the optimizing water usage & climate smart agriculture field.

After a successful launch in South Africa, the launch of “Strengthening skills and training capacity in the horticulture sector in Tanzania” quickly followed.

MP attends kick-off of Horticulture project in Tanzania
During the kick-off of the (Nuffic Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)) Project “Strengthening skills and training capacity in the horticulture sector” in Tanzania, we were very honored to welcome the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Hon. Prof. J. Ndalichako (MP) and Ambassador of the Netherlands to Tanzania, H. E. Jeroen Verheul. Hon. Prof. J. Ndalichako stated that she fully supports the project and is very interested in the progress of the multiple-year project.

The just launched project is based on the fundamental notion that improving the quality and employability of A-TVET graduates should be based on the needs in the labor market. The National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) and three A-TVET colleges will be capacitated to introduce gender sensitive and market driven (blended learning) programs and to perform inclusive value chain management, food safety, production teaching, technology transfer and industry extension (incl. apprenticeships).

Within this project there are four main areas that will be focused on;

• Curriculum review and development
• Institutional capacity development at NACTE and 3 A-TVETs
• Entrepreneurship development
• The establishment of a triple helix horticulture innovation platform

Another important factor for this OKP project is inclusive development. Specific attention will be paid to create a more inclusive environment for women and disadvantaged groups.  

Nuffic Orange Knowledge Programme
The Orange Knowledge Programme is a €195-m Dutch global development programme, available in 53 developing countries and managed by Nuffic, a Dutch non-profit organisation for internationalisation in education. Launched mid-2017, it aims to have provided tens of thousands with the possibility to change their future through education and training by mid-2022.

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