Employer engagement : a business plan for further education and training colleges

One is to provide access to economic opportunity and education for over 200,000 South African young adults who need skills to gain employment and a promising career. A second role is to address the skills needs of employers, both private and public, who drive the South African economy and create much-needed jobs. This guidebook is for FET college leaders who seek more productive partnerships with employers in order to improve career outcomes for students. It includes examples and strategies for everyone whose work affects employer engagement, including CEOs and deputy CEOs, partnership managers, student support managers, and lecturers. Since FET college leadership is so key to employer engagement (and transformation in the college), this guidebook targets college CEOs and their teams. It can also inform provincial and national officials who wish to support FET colleges" engagement with employers. It is a source of models, principles, and examples for anyone passionate about helping FET college students prepare for and succeed in the job market. It draws on employer feedback, college engagement experience, models, and research internationally -- primarily from South Africa, the United States, and the UK -- to help FET leaders build capacity. (Excerpt, modified)