Understanding interactive capabilities for skills development

Skills development is high on the South African policy agenda. There are many current interventions to improve the quantity and quality of skills produced at all levels, including universities, universities of technology and FET colleges. The priority is to facilitate a better match or, more effective interaction - between post school education and training organisations and the labour market. A typical starting point is to identify strategies and mechanisms that have been used in other countries, particularly in the advanced developed economies. Indeed, much of South Africa's skills policy and architecture has been borrowed from the experience of New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain and Scotland. However, if government identifies and adopts such strategies, a problem remains. How do we ensure that in the South African context, post-school education and training organisations have the will, matching expertise and capabilities to address firms 'skills demands'.