Festo Didactic recently had the honor to participate in the largest and most comprehensive knowledge-sharing event for technology-enhanced education, training and skills on the African continent, eLearning Africa Conference and Exhibition. This three-day conference that covered a range of issues under the theme: A new purpose for education took place on the 11th-13th May 2022.
As a well-established organisation that has made a name for itself in technical education, Festo was represented by two prestigious delegates, Nader Imani, the Executive Vice President for Global Education and Horst Weinert, the Head of Festo Didactic Eastern and Southern Africa. Mr. Imani shared his expertise on the topic, "does digital equal eLearning?" whilst Mr. Weinert contributed his knowledge about "TVET Made in Germany: Developing skills for employability".
TVET made in Germany
German-based companies have, for years, played a vital role in contributing to the economy of Africa. The various industries that these companies partake in require a skilled workforce. While the job market has a high number of job seekers, industrial companies are still in need of employees that possess the skills required in the labour market. This means that the education that the students acquire does not match the needs of the industry. It is for this reason that Germany introduced a dual system where employees go to vocational institutions for training during the length of employment.
With their roots in Germany, the multinational company Festo Didactic brings the needed experience and knowledge required to bridge industry and education. Their comprehensive training solutions range from individual learning systems, complete workstations, training packages, software, e-learning and more. According to Mr. Weinert, their company's solutions equip training institutions and companies to develop trades in demand that will close the skills gap that exists between the industry as well as education, thus increasing employability.
Festo Didactic exhibits its innovative digital learning solutions
Festo was also an exhibitor in the German Pavilion, where they showcased their Tec2screen with their connect interface, the bionic flower and pneumatic starter kit. A Tec2Screen is an interactive learning companion that facilitates connected learning. Their connect interface, Tec2Screen, allows them to bridge the gap between the virtual and real worlds. The courses and simulations that Festo has developed provide the content for learning, informing, regulating, and programming.
The FACET electronics training system, the Bionic Kit and Festo LX were also used to demonstrate how e-learning plus hands-on makes for effective blended learning. The FACET with eSeries training system is a unique combination of hardware and software, providing a complete learning solution for electronics training.
Festo is the world-leading provider of technical education and has embedded knowledge and education in the company's DNA. It has, for years, designed and established training centres, laboratories, learning systems and training programs throughout the African continent. Their capability to adapt to technological progress has allowed them to produce many innovative forms of digital learning solutions to equip students to make targeted use of the skills they have acquired in practice.