The Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA) spent R780 000 on two learnership programmes in order to upskill employees providing operational service support to the university.
Employees in grounds and gardens plus those working at food and catering services were among participants.
The focus on operational support staff provides an example of how learnership funding can be used to train individuals who are not necessarily in search of a new job.
Two learnership programmes funded R780 000
Two learnership programmes were organised.
One focused on trainees in grounds and gardens, while the second involved staff working at food and catering services.
Notably, the learnership information suggests that the programmes were hosted by Rhodes University itself, meaning that the selected participants received training that was relevant to the field they already worked in.
In this case, the Production Management Institute (PMI) provided the training service.
30 support staff received training
30 employees were in receipt of the learnership at the time of the report.
The majority of these participants (n=28) came from food and catering services at the university, while two trainees were employed at grounds and gardens.
In this regard, it is useful to consider how learnerships enable organisations to train existing staff in practical skills.
At the same time, such opportunities are also beneficial to employees, since the traineeship is directly related to the sphere of work which the person performs.
The benefits of SETA-funded training
SETA funding enables companies to provide training to employees, while simultaneously contributing to a national skills development strategy.
The focus on operational staff at Rhodes University is noteworthy, since it reflects a broader trend of employers making use of SETAs in order to train existing staff, rather than simply attracting new talent to the organisation.
Additionally, it is possible to view the initiative as an example of how SETA programmes are used to supplement the practical skills of employees in the workplace, rather than providing general knowledge or theoretical understanding.
Universities, in particular, are able to make good use of SETA-sponsored learnerships in order to train and retain operational staff, thus improving the quality of service which the institution provides.
Training occurred at the host university
Rhodes University not only sponsored the initiative, it also hosted the learnership programmes.
This allowed participants to receive training in an environment which was familiar to them.
The involvement of PMI added another layer of expertise to the training programmes, which were specifically aimed at improving practical skills.
An innovative use of SETA funding?
The R780 000 investment represents an innovative application of SETA funds.
Typically, the learnerships are aimed at recent graduates, as well as other individuals seeking employment.
In this regard, the initiative at Rhodes University is particularly noteworthy, as it explicitly focuses on training operational staff.
Food and catering services, as well as grounds and garden maintenance, are not directly involved in teaching activities, but support the functioning of the university.
By improving the practical knowledge of employees in these spheres, the SETA-funded learnership improved the quality of service which the university provides to its clients.
Source
Source: Rhodes University, archived report on ETDP SETA sponsored support staff learnership.
Editorial Policy
This article was written independently from the supplied source information. It contains no additional information which was not mentioned in the original report, besides the description of the programme’s purpose.
Corrections Policy
In the event of factual errors being discovered, the article shall be re-examined in the light of the available source information and corrections shall be implemented if any inaccuracies are found.
Disclaimer
This article refers to an archived report on an ongoing learnership programme at Rhodes University. As such, it should not be considered as an offer for a 2026 application.
