Schneider Electric, through its Youth Impact Through Learning (YITL) initiative, and the Schneider Electric Foundation, continues to strengthen the connection between education and industry by equipping young people with the skills needed for the evolving energy and automation landscape.
To that end, Schneider Electric partnered with Eastcape Midlands TVET College (EMC) to establish a state-of-the-art electrical laboratory at the institution’s Brickfields Road Campus in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The partnership directly supports Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Impact 2030 ambitions in upskilling 3 million people through educational programs, including those from vulnerable communities. By expanding access to quality technical education and helping to develop a skilled workforce needed to support the energy transition. Through industry-relevant training in electrification, automation and digital technologies, the initiative creates pathways to employment while preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will drive the energy transition and sustainable industrial development across Africa.
The Schneider Electric partnership also forms part of EMC’s broader vision to create innovative learning environments that prepare students for the realities of Industry 4.0 while expanding access to quality technical education for communities across the Eastern Cape.
As a public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution operating under South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training, EMC serves thousands of students, many of whom come from underserved communities.
To these learners, access to industry-standard technologies and training opportunities can be life changing, opening pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
The challenge
The world is becoming increasingly digitised and interconnected, which sees the demand for skilled electricians and technicians growing, particularly those with smart systems, automation technologies and energy-efficient solutions skill sets.
At the same time, South Africa faces a skills gap, particularly in sectors linked to energy, automation and digital transformation.
Many vocational training institutions are therefore finding it increasingly difficult to keep pace with pace rapidly changing technologies and workplace demand.
EMC was no different, prior to the partnership, students at the institutions predominately trained on generic training panels that provided an overview of electrical systems but offered limited exposure to the advanced technologies now commonplace in industry.
The opportunity was therefore clear: create a learning environment that not only supports current curriculum requirements but also prepares students for the technologies shaping the future of work.
The partnership
Schneider Electric was introduced to EMC through the French Embassy in South Africa. Shared objectives around skills development, employability and future-ready education quickly established a strong foundation for collaboration.
The result was the development of a dedicated electrical laboratory equipped with industry-standard Schneider Electric technologies aligned to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Electrician qualification.
The training solutions were also specifically selected to support the pillars of Industry 4.0, including smart grids, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, advanced automation and energy efficiency.
Beyond the laboratory, Schneider Electric’s support also extends to the development of a sustainable learning ecosystem through:
- Train-the-Trainer programmes that equip EMC facilitators with both technical and soft skills expertise.
- Complimentary access to Schneider Electric’s Energy University digital learning platform.
- Ongoing technical support and access to global best practices.
- Collaboration and knowledge exchange opportunities through the wider F’SASEC (French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre) network across Southern Africa.
By providing young people with access to advanced electrical, automation and digital skills, the partnership supports the creation of a more inclusive, resilient and skilled workforce capable of driving sustainable industrial growth across South Africa and beyond.
Creating lifelong, practical learning
For many EMC students, particularly those from underserved communities, the laboratory provides access to technology and expertise that would otherwise remain out of reach.
Moving beyond traditional theory-based learning, students now gain hands-on experience using the same automation and electrical technologies found in modern industrial environments, giving them greater confidence as they prepare to enter the workforce.
“What I like about the Schneider Electric panels is that it allows you to explore new technology and industrial automation. It’s a more efficient and much more aligned to today’s industrial environment,” says Sivikele Ndzwaiba, a third-year electrical apprentice EMC.
Olwethu Yonke, also an electrical apprentice at EMC, says the new industrial motor starter trainers have significantly improved practical learning. “It allows us to connect direct online starters, star-delta starters and sequence starters, and it enables us to complete our practical work in much less time than the previous panels we used.”
Fellow electrical apprentice Stephan Esterhuizen also says the practical experience has helped students better understand the future of manufacturing and automation. “The PLC-HMI training panel teaches us about monitoring different variables in a factory setting, preparing us for the industry of tomorrow,” he explains.
The PLC-HMI training panel, for example, teaches students how to monitor and control variables within an industrial environment, programme programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and visualise operational processes through Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems.
Through the programme, learners gain:
- Practical experience with advanced electrical and automation technologies.
- Exposure to smart grid and energy management systems.
- Digital competencies aligned with Industry 4.0 requirements.
- Knowledge of energy efficiency and sustainability principles.
- Experience working with real-world industrial systems and applications.
Looking ahead
The electrical laboratory forms part of EMC’s ambitious 4IR Factory initiative, an entrepreneurial model designed to accelerate training in future-focused technologies and create a blueprint that can be replicated across South Africa.
The 4IR Factory was officially launched in June 2026 and will further expand opportunities for students to engage with advanced technologies shaping modern industry.
Future plans include the introduction of a Schneider Electric digital solar learning program, complementing the existing practical curriculum and providing students with additional expertise in renewable energy technologies.
EMC and Schneider Electric will continue aligning training programs with industry needs and technological advances, building the workforce for South Africa’s energy transition. The initiative reflects Schneider Electric’s broader commitment to Sustainability Impact 2030, and recognizes that achieving the energy transition requires not only technology, but also the development of future-ready talent.
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