The French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) was officially opened in 2012 as part of an initiative by the French Ministry of Education and Research, through a partnership with Schneider Electric and the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark.

This tripartite partnership has established a training centre that prepares underprivileged students to become artisans and electricians who are employable. F’SASEC creates an effective link between universities and TVET colleges. The programme addresses the shortage of skilled workers in South Africa.

F’SASEC operates through a state-of-the-art facility and training centre, a highly competitive team, strong partnerships with industry and business, a dedicated F’SASEC research division, and a robust and sustainable revenue generation strategy.

In addition to the F’SASEC at the Vaal University of Technology, there are centres at the University of Johannesburg, Sedibeng TVET College (Vaal Triangle), the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape College, and Eastcape Midlands College, bringing the total number of F’SASEC centres in South Africa to five.

F’SASEC offers a one-year training programme in Domestic Installation and Industrial Wiring, alongside basic computer literacy and entrepreneurship development. Furthermore, the centre of excellence provides short courses in Solar and PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers).