Technology station in electronics at the Tshwane University of Technology: strengthening technological innovation activities amongst SMEs and students

Abstract

This article focuses on how the competence and capacity within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, specifically the electronic/electrical discipline, at the Tshwane University of Technology is utilised to support Small Medium Enterprises (SME) as well as student development in a challenging industry environment where the emphasis is on producing innovative products which can serve South African communities. The outputs of innovative products and training provided by the Technology Station in Electronics (TSE), an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and academic departments within the Faculty, will be highlighted. Other universities of technology, technology stations and industry can benefit from the challenges and lessons learnt by the TSE in supporting SME and student experiential training in South Africa. The TSE managed to increase SME support from 7 to 37 per annum over a period of 3 years and involved third-year electrical engineering students in 85 of the 87 projects with industry. This contributed towards enhancing the teaching and learning process of students and assisted in the production of user-driven innovation in SMEs.