A recent presentation by Gift Molokwane of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) provided a comprehensive overview of a report on the state of training for refrigeration and air conditioning (HVAC&R) technicians in South Africa. This is Part 4 of a four-part article.

There is a call for stronger collaboration between public institutions and private industry to address the shortage of qualified lecturers and technicians. © RACA Journal
There is a call for stronger collaboration between public institutions and private industry to address the shortage of qualified lecturers and technicians. The emphasis is on recruiting experienced professionals from the industry to train lecturers and to enhance the quality of vocational training.
There is a significant shortage of trained refrigeration and air conditioning technicians in South Africa. This shortage drives the need for more effective training programmes and highlights the importance of aligning educational outcomes with industry needs.
A key concern is whether newly trained individuals are finding employment. It’s essential to assess whether the current training programmes align with market demands and whether graduates are successfully entering the workforce. This assessment will help ensure that training programmes are relevant and that graduates have opportunities for employment upon completion of their training. Conduct assessments to track the employment outcomes of graduates to ensure that training programmes meet industry needs and that graduates are entering the workforce successfully.
The discussions highlighted the urgent need for improved training programmes and industry collaboration to address the shortages in the HVAC&R sector. By implementing the proposed solutions and fostering stronger partnerships, it is possible to enhance the quality of training, better align educational outcomes with industry needs, and ultimately improve employment prospects for graduates. Additionally, ongoing efforts related to the Montreal Protocol and energy efficiency initiatives will continue to play a crucial role in global environmental protection and sustainable development.