Empowering Youth for the Digital Economy 50 TVET Graduates Depart for China

By Thembi Moyo

Johannesburg 12 January 2025-Fifty young South Africans from 21 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges departed this morning from OR Tambo International Airport for China, where they will spend the next year gaining practical skills in e-commerce, entrepreneurship and global retail practices.

The group is participating in a one-year e-commerce training programme fully funded by the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA), in partnership with the Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre (CCIEEC). The initiative forms part of W&RSETA’s international skills development programme aimed at preparing young people for the digital economy.

The programme combines classroom-based learning at a partner college in China with extensive workplace exposure in enterprises operating in the e-commerce and retail sectors. Participants will gain hands-on experience in online trading, digital marketing, logistics and business management, while also being introduced to entrepreneurship as a potential pathway to economic participation.

Speaking at the send-off, W&RSETA Chief Executive Officer Tom Mkhwanazi said the programme was designed to respond to South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate and the growing demand for digital skills.“Our economy is changing, and e-commerce is no longer optional it is the future,” said Mkhwanazi. “Many young people complete their studies without the practical skills required by industry. This programme gives them exposure to real workplaces and equips them with skills that can help them secure employment or start their own businesses when they return home.”

The decision to select 50 students was informed by available funding, as international training over a full year is costly. Mkhwanazi noted that the partnership with the Chinese counterparts includes cost-sharing arrangements, making the programme sustainable while strengthening cultural and educational ties between South Africa and China.

This marks the second intake of students to benefit from the initiative. The first cohort of 82 TVET graduates, who departed in 2023, returned to South Africa in March 2025. According to W&RSETA, several of those graduates are now employed locally and internationally, while others have successfully started their own businesses with continued mentorship and support from the SETA.

“We don’t just train young people and leave them behind,” Mkhwanazi said. “For those who want to start businesses, we continue to support them with mentorship and access to funding opportunities. Our goal is long-term impact.” The students were selected from TVET colleges across the country, with 21 colleges participating in the process. W&RSETA has also incorporated lessons from the first cohort to ensure that student welfare, accommodation and ongoing support while abroad are prioritised.

Excitement among the departing students was evident. One participant said the opportunity would open doors that previously seemed out of reach. “Education is not easy, but when you focus on what you want to achieve, anything is possible,” the student said. “Learning in China and being exposed to a different culture is a huge opportunity.”

Another student, Precious, said the programme had already changed how she viewed her future. “This opportunity is going to change my life,” she said. “When I come back, I want to start my own business, especially because jobs are so scarce in South Africa.” As the group begins its journey, the programme stands as a practical example of how targeted skills development and international partnerships can empower young people not only to seek employment, but to become creators of opportunity in a rapidly changing economy.