Abstract:

In 2011 the Department of Science and Technology in South Africa introduced the Human Capital Development Programme in Advanced Foundry Technology to the Metal Casting Technology Station at the University of Johannesburg and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The programme is operated in partnership with the German TU Bergakademie Freiberg and RTW Aachen University respectively; and was initiated due to a lack in research and higher technical skills in the sector. The Metal Casting Technology Station and TU Bergakademie Freiberg jointly developed and implemented the Masters Research Programme in Human Capital Development and registered four South African students for a study programme initiated in Freiberg in March 2012. The paper deals with the background and development of the programme; but more so with the lessons learned in international collaboration and its influence on similar future programmes.