Pipe Fitting is one of the Occupational programmes that are offered by the institution under the stream of Engineering at Vredenburg campus. West Coast College (WCC) together with Mopani TVET College was declared Centre of Specialisation for Pipe Fitting in South Africa by the Department of Higher Education and Training in 2018. To address the demand for priority trades and improve relations between TVET Colleges and Industry partners.
As this is a new programme, and one of the institution’s values is Competency – The institution has upheld this value by committing to the success of this specialization by starting everything from scratch. From identifying host employers, developing learning material and trade test, designing tools and building a new workshop, with the help of funding from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), LG SETA and National Skills Fund (NSF).
The Institution’s Centre of Specialisation for Pipe Fitting has received its Trade Test Accreditation on 22 March 2022. As part of trade test, the institution installed a live pipe system for real-life simulation during the Trade Test. The college was joined by Mr Lehlwane David Matabane; the Moderator, Mr. Rofhiwa Isaac Mamavhi the Assessor from Mopani TVET College, and Mr. Gerrie van Staden; Acting DD: Quality Assurance System Development from National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) has also visited the institution two days’ prior the trade test was conducted.
West Coast College is proud to announce its first qualified Pipe Fitter student in South Africa through trade test on 26 August 2022 – Mr. Bradwin Wayne de Bruin.
De Bruin, who was placed at Westarcor Engineering, said that his motivation was to get better in life and make a difference in this world. He said, “I am grateful to my Lord Savior Jesus Chris, I am overwhelmed, blessed and more than thankful. I have learned from the best lecturers at West Coast College, Mr. Kevin and Mr Bowie’”.
West Coast College Senior Academic Manager, Mr. Gerhard Coetzee who has been the engine of the success of this programme, mentioned that The Centre of Specialisation shows how innovation can enable apprenticeships to be at the forefront of the college’s response to the major skills development challenges of the times we are living in, and the lessons from those innovations.
Mentioned Gerhard: “The students were trained during the pandemic but they still remain committed to it and now this is the end results of 4 years of hard work and dedication”
