Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) held its annual Ford Careers Day (FCD) this week. FCD is a career information initiative targeted at schools and employees’ children who wish to obtain information regarding various career opportunities, including those in the automotive industry.
The project saw about 90 learners in grades 11 and 12 spending the day at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, along with a further 35 learners hosted at the Ford Engine Plant in Struandale, Port Elizabeth.
The groups were presented with practical information on the various career opportunities available in the automotive industry, encompassing a diverse range of specialist fields, including engineering, manufacturing and assembly operations, finance, human resources, marketing, and quality assurance.
Various tertiary institutions were also on site for the Careers Day in Pretoria, including Wits University, Tshwane University of Technology and University of Johannesburg, while the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Port Elizabeth College were on hand in Struandale to provide the students with information on available study opportunities and entry requirements in their fields of interest.
Learners were given the opportunity to tour both plants respectively, thus gaining unique insights into the day-to-day operations of the various facilities, and speaking to engineers and project leaders about the automotive industry, the manufacturing environment and different career opportunities that are available.
“The Careers Day program is evidence of FMCSA’s aim to invest in the future of young people in South Africa,” says FMCSA president and CEO, Jeff Nemeth.
“Education forms a significant part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility, and we trust this effort will go a long way in helping the learners make informed career decisions.
“This will ensure a better future not only for them, but for the rest of the country, while assisting with the development of essential skills, particularly in the crucial engineering and manufacturing sectors.”
