While STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) is familiar to most of us, STEMi may be less so; the “i” is for innovation, and there will be much of that on offer at the Youth4STEMi career day on June 27.
The event, to be held at the SEIFSA Training Centre on June 27 as part of Youth Month, will offer young people the chance to meet South Africans who have chosen to pursue STEM-related careers.
Mapitje MD Meta Tladi, who is organising the career day with SEIFSA, says she hopes greater exposure to the many trade-related careers will encourage more young people to become artisans.
“There is a huge need to inform young people about studying a trade. The career day will bring those people who are doing well in various trades to the young people, so they can learn about them,” says Tladi.
“Experts — each representing a letter of STEMi — have been so kind as to avail themselves.”
Zamazizi Dlamini, a nuclear physicist and MBA graduate, will represent Science; Mduduzi Malatsi from the Thuthukisa Innovation Hub will represent Technology; Maureen Ramaube, a mechanical engineer and PhD candidate in atmospheric science, will represent Engineering; Paul (need to confirm ??), will represent Mathematics; and Malatsi will also represent Innovation.
The STEMi experts will take part in panel discussions, interactive exhibits and live demonstrations as well as providing the young people with networking opportunities.
For the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) promoting STEM and encouraging young people to study is part of its commitment to closing South Africa’s skills gap. “We have made a strategic decision to support and invest in the SEIFSA Training Centre and are committed addressing the crippling skills deficit,” says SEIFSA CEO Lucio Trentini.
Tladi and SEIFSA agree wholeheartedly on the importance of the trades and their universal application. The Training Centre offers accredited occupational apprenticeship programmes, specialised short courses in the engineering field, safety training, production technology training and other non-accredited and accredited courses and offers training in nine trades.
Tladi says there is a need to change the way many young people view the trades — sometimes as a choice only for learners who have limited choices.
“There is still a misunderstanding of who can pursue these trades as well as the jobs that are actually available. Many young people do not even know what an artisan is, and there are also misconceptions about what these types of careers involve.
“An expo like the STEMi Career Day provides learners and even students from technical colleges and university to be properly informed and understand careers in STEM. Ultimately, there will never be a time when we can do without artisans, there will always be a demand for them.”
The STEMi Career Day 2025 — a day of career-focused discussions, exhibits and demonstrations for 150 Matric and tertiary students — will take place at the SEIFSA Training Centre on Friday, June 27.
