Festo to deliver conference for African countries on 19 June

WorldSkills Global Partner Festo has organized an online conference for African countries interested in the skills of Mechatronics, Industry 4.0, and Water Technology.

The event will take place on 19 June 2023 from 09:00 to 14:00 (Central African Time). The main goal of the session is to provide capacity building to countries considering taking part in WorldSkills Africa activities, or to WorldSkills Members participating in WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

The conference is part of Festo’s contribution to promoting WorldSkills Africa, and framed under the 30th anniversary of the partnership between the company and WorldSkills.

The sessions will share insights into the three skills for which Festo is the lead sponsor, and explore the industrial partnership as well as the social and economic impact of the skills. Following the skills conference, the participants will have the opportunity in September to receive hands-on training by industry experts in Johannesburg.

“The main purpose is to do a first approach before we invite countries to training camp in September so that we can explain in detail what is being taught in these three skills and how it relates to African economies, with the goal to attract more Experts and Competitors to the training,” says Nader Imani, Executive Vice President Global Education, Festo Didactic. 

The Mechatronics, Industry 4.0, and Water Technology, have different levels of relevance in the African continent depending on the country.

A resource-rich continent, the skill of Mechatronics could be the gateway the continent needs to add value to raw product, increase manufacturing, and job creation, believes Mr. Imani.

“The treatment and recycling of water is extremely relevant vis-à-vis the problems of increasing water scarcity or pollution. And the demand for Industry 4.0 is high in countries like South Africa, Tunisia, or Kenya, which are more industrialised.”

The key speakers in the conference will be:

• Mr Michael Linn, WorldSkills Skill Competition Manager, Mechatronics
• Mr Sasa Simovic, WorldSkills Skill Competition Manager, Industry 4.0
• Mr Hamza Lekhbizi Adiro, Water technology

Official Delegates, Technical Delegates, and Experts from WorldSkills Members in Africa, as well as other government officials in the field of education from prospective countries are encouraged to join the discussion.

RSVP for the online skills conference using the online form.