The research reflected in this volume indicates that in South Africa there are almost three million youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who are not in education, training or employment - a situation which points not only to a grave wastage of talent, but also to the possibility of serious social disruption. The authors in this work paint a picture of the enormous reservoir of human talent which exists in the country, but is not provided with the means to develop. Responding to the Educational Needs of Post-School Youth attempts not only to sketch the scope and extent of the current post-school educational crisis, but also to explore possible solutions through collaboration in the higher education sector. The findings reported here are a result of three distinctive but linked research components conducted by the Further Education and Training Institute (University of Western Cape), the Centre for Higher Education Transformation, and the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (University of Cape Town). The research was funded by the Ford Foundation and the project conducted in consultation with the Department of Education.

Its November 2001. A university in dire straits, financially bankrupt burdening a debt in excess of R100-million, a disillusioned and demoralised staff complement still reeling from the trauma of retrenchments, coupled with an academic project facing collapse as student numbers dwindle by a third to less than 10 000. Is there a future for such an institution, described by some as a ‘basket case’ with very bleak prospects of survival? This was the landscape that confronted the newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the University of the Western Cape. Fast forward to December 2014. The CEO retires from office, bestowing upon his successor a financially sound institution with a flourishing academic project, recording unprecedented achievements, enriching the lives of more than 20 000 students, and widely acknowledged as a research-led university. This book narrates how visionary leadership with the steadfast belief that your past does not determine your future, galvanised an entire organisation into believing that a better outcome was indeed achievable, and the will to move forward as a collective with a redefined purpose and commitment to achieve that which was once deemed impossible.

Adolescenceâ€"beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20sâ€"is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescenceâ€"rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

Why solving ongoing problems with the NQF (National Qualifications Framework) matters -- The challenges unemployment imposes on youth -- The challenge of youth-to-work transitions: an international perspective -- A statistical overview of further education and training colleges -- Strengthening the capacity of FET Colleges to meet the needs of young people -- Higher education and an expanded post-school educational system -- Trends in training in South Africa -- Key issues in the assessment of South Africa's national skills development strategy -- Opening the doors of learning? Viewing the post-school education and training landscape from a youth perspective.

This publication explores a range of helpful policy measures and institutional reforms to mobilise higher education for regional development in the Free State of South Africa.