Corporative Business - Overview & History
OVERVIEW
Northlink College was established in 2002, following the merger of four Colleges in the northern suburbs of the greater Cape Town Metropole. The Colleges were: Wingfield Technical College (three campuses: Wingfield, Goodwood and Table Bay), Protea College, Tygerberg College and Parow) and Bellville Technical College. In 2005 Northlink bought Belhar College, a private institution.
The name is a combination of “North”, reflecting the geographical positioning of the institution in Cape Town, and “link”, which describes the initial linking of the former colleges but, more importantly, the critical link between school education and the world of work.
One of Northlink College’s strengths – innovation in meeting skills needs – has been expressed in a number of ways. For instance, Northlink was the first to develop a Simulated Enterprise (SE) in 1999. This is a mock company. Northlink’s first SE was created on the Parow campus following the donation of furniture from Sanlam. This created a workplace mirroring that of a courier company with Skynet WorldWide Express as the mentor. In 2006, with a grant from the Western Cape government’s Ikapa Ilihlumayo Development Fund, Northlink launched a soft drink SE.
Northlink has three business units: Hair and Cosmetology, the Clothing Factory and a Restaurant and Conference Centre. Northlink was also the first college in the Western Cape and the second college in South Africa to implement the Integrated Tertiary Software Administration (ITS) System during 2005.
HISTORY
Northlink College has achieved a great deal during the last ten years towards its post merger progression. As set out in its vision the management and staff are committed to the necessary transformation on all the different levels and terrains to be a leading provider of Education and Training Excellence.
Some of the results were:
- Northlink is one of the Public FET Colleges with the highest number of Learnerships and skills learners in the country.
- In 2005 Northlink was the only College nationally that started to develop a total Quality Manage-ment System to emphasize our commitment to “Quality Educa¬tion” in our mission.
- The inauguration of a state-of-the-art SE facility at Parow Campus took place in 2006.
- During 2007 Northlink focused on the implementation of the National Certificate (Vocational) level 2 programmes and the recapitalisation process.
- A further significance of 2007 was the implementation of the FET Colleges Act with specific reference to the Transfer of Staff from the Western Cape Education Department to the College Council as the new employer.
- A sophisticated and well equipped Fitting and Machining Centre of Excellence at Wingfield Campus was inaugurated in 2008.
- The Bellville Campus development, with the financial support of the WCED, continues towards completion and will serve as a model of a typical FET facility located in a residential area with excellent training workshops and highly skilled lecturers.
- Northlink is the only Public FET College in South Africa that has its own International Language School, established in 2000.
What Happened
South Africa's Technical Colleges have been reformed into a new FET (Further Education and Training) system. Bellville Technical College, Protea College, Tygerberg College and Wingfield College have merged to form a mega FET College in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town.
Within a diverse and rapidly changing global knowledge economy, the success of the new democratic South Africa rests on its ability to harness the talents, energies and full potential of all its people. This presents both special challenges and opportunities for our society, which have been identified in the Human Resource Development strategy, and which must be put into an achievable form of implementation.
Successful economies in the developed world have developed or are developing systems and strategies to support lifelong learning and work-force development. These strategies build on the success and redress the failures of foundation education in schools and offer flexible access to Higher Education and FET.
The support for lifelong learning requires a network of FET Colleges. The new system will need to work with different partners to deliver responsive and relevant programmes to meet the needs of individuals and the wider social and business community as a whole. The achievement of our national policy imperatives of redress and economic inclusion depends on the existence of accessible, high-quality and cost-effective learning opportunities for young people and adults.
Why Northlink
Why the Name?
The government decided that all Colleges throughout the Cape region were to amalgamate in specific regions. The brief was to come up with a name, logo and look for the Northern Metropole, being: Bellville, Protea, Tygerberg and Wingfield.
North - Being directional seemed the obvious choice. For geographical positioning and in your life as the only way is UP!
Link - Will be with the initial linking of the four Colleges and thereafter it will only stand as the critical link between secondary education and the business world.
Why the Icon?
The courses offered by the College are both technical and academic. The icon design had to incorporate these, therefore combining both a technical design and brain teaser.
The links reinforce the name yet again, so the icon can stand alone and still be synonymous with NorthLink.
The single triangular link in an arrow pointing northwards, with the entire icon depicting a compass to emphasise moving forward, upwards, improving or having direction in life.
Why the colours?
Our clients are both parents and students. The colours chosen are bright and bold but can be used for a corporate feel aswell, by simply adding in a white clean background.
Further reasons why you should choose Northlink College
- Northlink has 7 Campuses in the Northern Suburbs that are easily accessible
- Internships are offered to students who have completed their N6 courses
- A work placement officer builds relationships with the Industry to find internships for students
- Hostel facilities and private accommodation
- Well equipped workshop facilities
- Affordable and accessible programmes
- National and International accreditation
- Full-time and part-time studies
- WP and other formal sport club affiliation
- Career guidance
- Counselling and student support
- Academic support and development