Appliance and electronics manufacturer Hisense, the National Business Initiative (NBI) and the Northlink Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College opened the Hisense-Northlink Technical Academy on August 26.

Located at the Belhar Campus of the Northlink TVET College, in Cape Town, the new academy establishes a dedicated training and workplace development initiative for technical skills in the domestic appliance repair sector.

The Hisense-Northlink Technical Academy brings together industry expertise and public TVET education to ensure training is aligned with current market requirements.

Students will combine college-based learning with structured workplace experience, creating a practical pathway into the appliance repair sector.

“The value of the academy lies in bringing industry and TVET education closer together. It creates an opportunity to ensure that young people are gaining skills that respond to a real market need, while giving them exposure to the workplace and the standards expected by industry,” says NBI economic inclusion head Gugu McLaren-Ushewokunze.

The academy forms part of the NBI’s Installation, Repair and Maintenance Initiative, through the Appliance Repair and Dismantling programme, which aims to address skills shortages in the formal appliance repair market and expand opportunities for young people to enter employment.

The initiative is aimed at removing some of the barriers limiting young people’s entry into the formal appliance repair sector.

These include limited access to formal training and recognised certification, limited opportunities for practical workplace experience and linkages between training institutions and formal manufacturer service networks, which can make it difficult for students to transition from training into the workplace.

Hisense will support the academy with training appliances, technical equipment and expertise and opportunities for students to gain workplace experience within its service network.

“This partnership is an important investment in the future of technical skills in South Africa.” say Hisense South Africa deputy GM Luna Nortje.

“We are developing a pipeline of qualified technicians who understand our products and meet industry standards. This strengthens service quality and supports the long-term sustainability of the appliance repair ecosystem,” she adds.

Further, the collaboration will significantly expand Northlink TVET College’s occupational programmes that respond to skills in high demand within industry, while creating meaningful opportunities for its students to enter the workplace, says Northlink TVET College Belhar campus acting campus manager Lebuhang Mosia.

“As part of this academy, we aim to facilitate pathways for graduates to be absorbed into industry or, where appropriate, to establish and grow their own businesses. Through partnerships such as this, we can strengthen the link between TVET education, industry requirements and sustainable employment opportunities for our graduates,” he says.

Since 1996, Hisense has grown its footprint in South Africa while maintaining a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, creating local jobs and exporting Made in South Africa products across the continent and beyond.

The company remains committed to putting world-class technology in South African hands, and giving South Africans a hand in building it, it says.