The CIE Thabiso Skills Institute capacitates skills centre management and staff to create centres of excellence.

The institute guides and supports skills centres around the difficult terrain of the skills development system, by:

• Sourcing or designing occupational skills programmes
• Introducing quality management systems
• Ensuring that policies and processes protect vulnerable persons
• Providing assistance in accreditation, certification and quality assurance
• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on training delivery, workplace-based learning and economic activity
• Facilitating communication, networking and resource-sharing through communities of practice for centre managers, life skills facilitators and job services officers
• Coordinating and facilitating staff capacity building
• Creating opportunities for workplace-based learning, job placements and business development
• Supporting job services officers to access workplace-based learning opportunities, and support centres’ Livelihood Hubs
• Providing up-to-date insights into the changing community education and training landscape, and brokering strategic partnerships with the Department of Higher Education, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, and Sector Education and Training Authorities, other government departments and public entities, other non-profit organisations and businesses
• Assisting with accessing funds

Workplace-based learning is compulsory in all accredited occupational training – but it is also essential for those learning non-accredited skills. The CIE Thabiso Skills Institute’s job services officers collaborate with their skills centre counterparts, as well as managers, life skills facilitators and occupational facilitators, to find workplaces near skills centres where beneficiaries can complete their qualifications.

A tracking system at skills centres enables the institute to determine whether or not those who complete their training find employment, generate their own income or continue learning.

Exposure to workplace-based learning is a challenge for youth seeking to generate income. The skills centres have Livelihood Hubs, which take on projects secured by the centre or its facilitators, or for a fee provide production spaces and equipment to previously trained youth. This approach thus offers workplace-based learning and some income.

Facilitators provide support, mentoring and basic business training, including budgeting, costing, funding, record-keeping and business plans. The Livelihood Hubs offer minimal-cost start-up kits to youth wanting to quickly start nail and beauty salons, or cellphone repair shops.

Youth who are selected for Livelihood Hubs have shown their ability to create successful ventures, earning regular income and even offering work opportunities to other youth.