Tuesday 2 June 2026

The National Skills Fund (NSF) recently participated in the World Digital Education Conference held in Hangzhou, China, as well as visits to technology companies, vocational colleges and institutions directly under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Melissa Erra, formed part of the South African delegation led by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, MP. The conference brought together governments, education leaders, technology experts, and strategic partners from across the globe to engage on the future of digital education, artificial intelligence, innovation, and the transformation of education systems through technology.

The NSF’s participation in this important global platform reflects its commitment to remaining responsive to global trends shaping the future of skills development and employment opportunities for young people.

The conference provided valuable insights into how countries are leveraging Artificial Intelligence application in education and digital technologies to expand access to quality education, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and prepare citizens to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Discussions further highlighted the growing importance of digital literacy, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging ICT-related fields that are increasingly becoming central to economic growth and global competitiveness.

“South Africa comes to this conversation (at the World Digital Conference) not with all the answers, but with a clear conviction: that education must remain a fundamentally human project. That technology is a tool in service of human development, not the other way around. And the measure of any education system, however digitally sophisticated, is whether it advances justice, dignity, and the full development of every person it touches.” said Minister Manamela.

The conference outcomes also resonate strongly with the priorities outlined by Minister Buti Manamela in his inaugural Budget Vote Speech delivered in parliament on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. In identifying digital transformation as the Department’s foremost priority, the Minister emphasised that digital transformation should not be viewed merely as a technology programme, but as the backbone of a modern post-school education and training system. While acknowledging the importance of devices, platforms, and connectivity, he noted that the real challenge lies in ensuring that the system can plan, teach, track, fund, and connect people to opportunities at the speed and scale required by the current moment.

“To achieve this vision, the Department will focus on rebuilding the integrity of its data systems, beginning with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Management Information System (TVETMIS), expanding the National Open Learning System, introducing online Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Community Education and Training (CET) offerings, and rolling out digital career services that reach young people where they are, on their phones, in their communities, townships, and villages”, said the Minister. These priorities align closely with the NSF’s commitment to investing in digital skills development and creating pathways that improve access to education, training, and employment opportunities for all young South Africans.

For the NSF, the conference reinforced the importance of aligning skills development programmes with the evolving demands of industry and ensuring that South African youth are equipped with future-fit skills that enable them to compete effectively in both local and international labour markets.

As an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training, the NSF remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering South Africa’s youth through targeted investments in education, training, and skills development initiatives, particularly within the ICT and digital economy sectors. The organisation continues to place young people at the centre of its mandate by supporting programmes that expand access to digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable employment opportunities.

A notable example of this ressponsiveness is the NSF’s catalytic investment in the uMsinga Smart Campus at uMgungundlovu TVET College. This pioneering initiative is set to redefine Technical and Vocational Education and Training in South Africa’s  through the integration of smart technologies and modern learning infrastructure. The project was conceived following extensive engagements between the Department specifically the TVET Branch and uMgungundlovu TVET College and reflects a shared vision of leveraging technology to enhance learning and training outcomes. This aligns directly with the NSF’s strategic catalytic skills mandate outcome of bridging the digital divide, enhancing employability, and fostering economic inclusion through quality skills development through TVET Colleges.

The NSF will share in its NSF Digital series unpack further information on its digital skills development fund to catalyse skills development initiatives that bridge the digital divide, unlock the potential of young people, and contribute meaningfully towards building an inclusive, skilled, and future-ready South Africa.

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ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL SKILLS FUND: PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION UNIT