In South Africa we are skirting the severity of the situation. Anyone who follows the news will be aware of pockets of incredibly violent protests across the country. We should not ignore these warning signs. We need to urgently shift our focus from the notion of jobs; and shift it to the concept of work.

Universum South Africa’s annual survey of over 16 900 tertiary students from all 23 accredited tertiary institutions and over 9 100 professionals has thrown up some fascinating insights into youth employment trends.

The No Excuses Schools dialogue – made possible by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Mutual & Federal and the Sandton Convention Centre – brought together teachers, learners, business and education leaders to address how to transform education in the country.

Some people with dyslexia are simply allergic to school. Years of unsuccessful interaction with educational institutions scar their self esteem and can result in a lifetime of avoidance of all things “academic”. At the same time, other dyslexic people may go on to become successful entrepreneurs, and some may complete their tertiary education with high academic success. 

A critical ingredient of a successful learnership programme is one that fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty amongst learners to the organisation, says Doreen Nixon, director of Human Resources (HR) at Sandoz South Africa (SA).