On 11 November, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in the Eastern Cape, in partnership with the British Council and the Office of the Premier, will host a Skills and Employability Conference at the Volkswagen People Pavilion in Uitenhage. This one-day programme will include a panel discussion on how the different sectors are contributing to the creation of quality and excellence in skills provision. There will be a breakaway session where delegates will respond to topics around skills development. The Skills and Employability Conference aims to: Promote dialogue on effective approaches to bridging the skills gap in South Africa. Map the role that key stakeholders like Industry, Sector Education & Training Authorities (SETA’s), Educational Institutions, Government, National & International development agencies can play in addressing skills gaps. Share and learn best practices on how the sector organisations can work together to address the skills challenge. Speakers at the conference will include Mr Glen McMahon, International Project Manager, Belfast Met College, Northern Ireland, Ms. Meike Wetsch, Programme Manager: Coega Human Capital Solutions, Mr Jean September, Deputy Country Director of the British Council (Cape Town Office) of the British Council, Mr Hein Luiters, Acting General Manager of the Office of the Premier, Ms Nombulelo Nxesi, CEO of ETDP SETA, Ms Kim Smallie Learning and Development Specialist and Mr Luvuyo Ngubelanga, Chairperson of Principals Forum of TVET Colleges in the Eastern Cape. The Provincial Conference co-ordinator, Ms Elmari van de Merwe said: “The Skills and Employability Conference is an opportunity for all stakeholders in the Eastern Cape, who have influence in skills development, to come together, look at the challenges the province is facing in enhancing quality and excellence in skills provision and come up with collaborative solutions that will bridge …
South Africa’s playground safety re-evaluated
Senior Landscape Architect, Lizelle Wolmarans at GIBB, one of South Africa’s leading black-owned engineering consulting firms, presented a paper on child safety in playgrounds at the three-day Congress for the Institute of World Urban Parks (WUP) and Environment and Recreation Management (IERM) in Cape Town last month. Leading parks professionals and parks agencies from around the world resolving to protect and enhance the world’s urban parks and green spaces in the face of looming global challenges was present at this Congress. The paper, titled Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development focused on the construction of playgrounds, safety and safety standards of equipment used in playgrounds as well as the influence it has on physical and mental child development. Play experts such as Environmental Psychologists, Child Development Specialists, Landscape Architects and Educators are advocating a re-assessment of the play environment. While the safety of children should never be neglected, Wolmarans explained the dangers of being over-protective as potentially detrimental to a child’s development. “Our environment is not without risk and therefore, we need to learn how to manage risk continuously as a survival skill. However, where risk is eliminated from playgrounds, challenge is eliminated leading to boredom where children may potentially feel the need to take excessive risk using equipment inappropriately that can cause unintentional injury,” said Wolmarans. South Africa has adopted the international playground safety standards, these standards are not legalised but serve as a guideline to prevent hazardous risks. Locally, our decisions need to be influenced by security, economy and future sustainability. In the case of security, it is a fact that children are living in dangerous environments in their homes and neighbourhoods. Some of the dangers are traffic, kidnapping, crime and drugs. Supervision and …
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Samsung Redefines the Consumer Experience at IFA 2016
Samsung underlines its commitment to Europe and unveils new products and partnerships for the European home appliance, visual display and home entertainment markets JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 1 September, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. used its IFA 2016 press conference today in Berlin to demonstrate how it is redefining the consumer experience, showcasing a range of new products and partnerships for the home appliance, visual display and home entertainment markets. “At IFA 2016, we want to show delegates how we are continually striving to revolutionise the Samsung experience for all our customers and partners - and across all our product lines, from television and home audio to home appliances. Everything Samsung creates is borne out of our determination to enrich peoples’ daily lives with innovative technology, based on a deep understanding of what consumers really want and need,” said Matthew Thackrah, Deputy Managing Director Samsung South Africa. Committed to Europe’s Potential During the press conference, held in the CityCube at Messe Berlin, Samsung reiterated its commitment to Europe, employing 14 000 people in 34 countries. Samsung’s products are infused with European flair, fashion, design and the finest traditions of manufacturing excellence. With Q2 revenue up five percent year on year, seven out of 10 European households owning a Samsung mobile phone, as well as one in three families watching their favorite shows and films on Samsung TVs, the company believes now is the right time to invest even further in Europe’s potential. In keeping with this commitment, Samsung announced a new partnership with MakerBot, the global leader in 3D printing, which will equip schools, colleges and museums in five European markets with 3D printers, as well as train teachers and students alike in the use of the technology. With more than 100 000 MakerBot printers around the world, it represents the world’s largest 3D printing community and an …
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Samsung 2016 UHD TVs Awarded Top UHD Standards Certification from Digital Europe
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 31 August, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co. recently announced that all of its 2016 UHD TV models have attained the Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV certification from Digital Europe (DE), a collaborative body of European IT and consumer electronics businesses. Comprised of 62 corporate members and 37 National Trade Associations, DE is one of the most influential organisations representing the digital technology industry in Europe. According to Matthew Thackrah, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Consumer Electronics at Samsung Electronics South Africa, Samsung TVs, ranging from the 2016 SUHD TV lineup to the Series 6 UHD TVs, have all met the strict standards set for UHD TV certification as specified by DE. “These products will now carry the European UHD TV certification logo, as well as the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) label. Both certification labels will be on display on Samsung UHD TVs at this year’s IFA exhibition,” he explains. For certification purposes, DE has specifically defined a ‘pixel’ as the minimum picture resolution element capable of rendering the same luminance scale as the entire display. The horizontal and vertical pixel count must be of the complete red, green and blue triple sub-pixel block, while not counting additional non-RGB sub-pixels. Additional criteria listed to earn the DE certification include: Minimum native resolution of the display (e.g. LCD, PDP, OLED) or display engine (e.g. DLP) is 3840 x 2160 in 16:9 aspect ratio. Minimum supported colorimetric is at BT.709 or above. The display-device has at least one end-to-end signal path available to the user that does not render a UHD input at a frame rate or resolution lower than that received over the UHD interface from the source. The display-device has at least one end-to-end signal path available to the user that does not reduce the resolution, nor reduce the frame rate of a UHD input during processing prior to …
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Kick Start your Summer with Samsung SA
Promotion offers Samsung consumers the chance to win a trip to the Maldives JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 31 August, 2016 – The majority of South Africans are thankful to note that winter is finally coming to an end and that they can once again get ready to unpack their shorts and sandals. Samsung Electronics South Africa shares this sentiment and has therefore decided to offer consumers a chance to get into the spirit of summer. The company is launching its ‘Kick Start Your Summer’ competition on the 1st of September 2016. Scheduled to run until 30th September 2016; the initiative will see 15 lucky winners win the trip of a lifetime to the beautiful islands of the Maldives. “Entering the competition is quite easy”, says Michael McKechnie, Director of Digital Appliances Group at Samsung Electronics SA. “Consumers simply need to purchase any qualifying Samsung air conditioning product through a recognised retailer, send the unique product serial number to the competition hotline via SMS and wait to see if they are one of the lucky names drawn at the end of the competition. Winners will be drawn on 14 October 2016 and proof of purchase, as well as the serial number will be required to validate wins” he explains. Once validated, the customer will receive an SMS with a winning pin code and the concierge service number to call to book their trips to the island. “The good news for customers is that this is just the first of a number of exciting promotions planned by Samsung over the course of the coming months,” McKechnie adds. “While a number of Samsung products qualify as entry to the competition, the start of the summer season is an ideal time to consider buying an air-conditioner. What better way to kick start your summer than by purchasing a product that could set you up with a dream ticket to the Indian Ocean paradise of the Maldives? So, if you are in the market for an air-conditioner this summer, then look no further than Samsung’s beautifully …
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Samsung Electronics Transforms Air Conditioning with the New 360 Cassette’s Circular Design
Samsung Electronics South Africa announced the launch of the Digital Variable Multi (DVM S) Eco 14 HP, a new side discharge variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioner that is engineered to deliver a single outdoor unit solution for apartments and office buildings. The improved performance of the Samsung DVM S Eco 14 HP ensures that it meets the increasing market need for a specialised single outdoor unit to reduce the cost of previous multiple loading and sub-duct installation in multi-room buildings. The innovative design of the DVM S Eco 14 HP features a robust Inverter Scroll Compressor and corrugate fin, which improves heating performance by 20 percent and increases air flow by 10 percent compared to standard side discharge VRF units. "Research and development (R&D), as well as design, play key roles in how we develop our products as we're always focused on delivering cutting-edge technology and ensuring the products we deliver are highly efficient," said Michael McKechnie, Director Digital Appliances Group at Samsung Electronics SA. "The DVM S Eco 14 HP delivers unbeatable performance among the side discharge VRF units and does so with the greatest energy efficiency, as well as the best use of space, with its unique compact design." Single Solution for Multi-room Buildings The increased horse power of the DVM S Eco (maximum 14 HP) means that only one single outdoor unit is needed to manage the air conditioning requirements for an apartment or office building, in place of multiple costly units. All areas of the building are covered as the new unit also provides an extended piping length of up to 160 meters and an installation height of up to 50 meters. The width of the new DVM S Eco 14 HP is less than one meter (940 mm), maximising capacity and using space more efficiently, while the four-way piping enables convenient installation. Greater Energy Efficiency The design of the Inverter Scroll Compressor in the DVM S Eco 14 HP has …
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Samsung Reveals Spectacular 2016 SUHD TV Lineup
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the number one TV manufacturer worldwide for the past 10 years, recently unveiled its spectacular new line-up of SUHD TVs, ushering in a new decade of global TV leadership. Samsung’s 2016 SUHD TVs offer unparalleled picture quality with Quantum dot display, the world’s first bezel-less curved design. The TVs are beautiful from every angle and offer the smartest user experience, making it easy for consumers to access all their entertainment content in one place. In addition, the full 2016 SUHD TV lineup comes with IoT hub technology which allows the TV itself to control the entire smart home system. “Our new SUHD TVs represent our singular focus on innovation that matters most to consumers, by providing the very best picture quality for the home,” said Matthew Thackrah, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Consumer Electronics at Samsung Electronics South Africa. “In 2016, we’re going beyond anything we’ve done before to offer a remarkable synergy of design, engineering and craftsmanship.” Samsung SUHD TV with Quantum dot display: Unbeatable Picture Quality Samsung’s 2016 SUHD TVs feature the world’s only cadmium-free, 10-bit Quantum dot display, offering remarkable true-to-life picture quality, with stunning brightness, exceptional contrast and the most lifelike colours ever offered by Samsung. According to a recent consumer survey in the US*, the vast majority of consumers watches TV with light in the room (86 percent on a typical weekday, 85 percent on weekends) and only a small share say they watch in complete darkness (14 percent on weekdays and 15 percent on weekends). Samsung designed its new SUHD TVs to deliver the optimum viewing experience, regardless of the lighting environment. This year, all of the Samsung SUHD TVs will feature the ability to provide a premium high dynamic range (HDR) experience, with 1,000 nit HDR minimum for a higher level of contrast between light and dark images. New Ultra Black …
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Hot Tips for Easy Meals this Winter
Microwaves take the chill and effort out of cooking in the colder season With weeks of gloomy winter weather ahead, Samsung suggests you look to your microwave oven to help keep your family warm and comfortable. Michael McKechnie, Director: Digital Appliance Group at Samsung South Africa, points out that the microwave is by far the quickest way to prepare delicious meals, nourishing soups and steaming hot beverages. “The microwave is not just for reheating or defrosting. It reduces the time needed to prepare hearty winter comfort food, hot beverages and even modern-day hot water bottles,” he says. “Most people have access to a microwave, but they tend to just use it for heating and defrosting food. The fact is, you are able to use your microwave to bake, roast, boil, steam and even air fry food in a fraction of the time it would take using a stove. Busy professionals and hard-working parents could be turning out wholesome home cooked meals in minutes, using just a bit of imagination and their microwaves,” McKechnie continues. Not only does microwave cooking drastically lessen the time needed to prepare meals, it retains the nutrients in vegetables more effectively than many other cooking methods. Thanks to Samsung technology innovations like smart sensors, Slim Fry technology and convection fans, today’s microwaves produce virtually instant meals cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of crispness and browning on the outside, while ensuring a delicious and juicy inside. Samsung’s offers some hot tips for using your microwave to take the edge off the winter chill: Use your microwave to heat grain-filled warming packs to safely warm beds without having to resort to electric blankets. Microwave neck and back warmers, gloves and slippers can also be quickly heated in the microwave to keep the whole family cozy on the coldest winter’s night. Make old-fashioned cocoa as rich and chocolatey as you like – without any mess – by heating milk …
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Samsung Mixed Talents Competition Winners Beat the Dragon’s Den
Samsung Electronics South Africa is proud to announce that three exceptional young entrepreneurs have triumphed in the company’s Launching People - Mixed Talents competition. Last week, ten finalists undertook a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style grilling at the hands of six judges, to determine the winners, who received funding as well as other business support tools and services. After undergoing a series of pitching their various concepts to the judges - Michelle Potgieter, Director for Brand and Communications at Samsung South Africa; Lisa Illingworth, Entrepreneurial Host and Journalist at Hot 91.9 FM; Ian Wright, Founder of METIME; GG van Rooyen, Deputy Editor of Entrepreneur Magazine; Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee, Director of DStv Sales and Marketing; as well as Garth Gaffley, Owner of Garth Gaffley Consulting and Mixed Talents – three winners were ultimately chosen. Kyle Dodds’ Cognition Online, which has developed an application designed for the tutoring industry and enables tutors, parents and students connect was the first winner announced. They were followed by Neo Hutiri’s Technovera Lockers, a smart locker designed to enable chronic patients to obtain their medicines securely, without having to wait in queues. The final winner was a mobile child safety seat designed by Trenton Carr. According to Potgieter, the Mixed Talents initiative was born of a desire to have a positive impact on the high youth unemployment rate in the country. “The Mixed Talents competition and Ideas Bank tool were designed to provide entrepreneurial youngsters with a forum to adequately express their ideas. Part of the global Samsung Launching People initiative, Mixed Talents offers local South African millennials a platform through which they can turn their entrepreneurial ideas into a reality. The ultimate goal is to make a real impact in youth unemployment in South Africa,” she says. The three winners will each receive R50 000 in start-up capital, as well as access to over R …
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Samsung Encourages Customers to Go For Gold
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 11 August, 2016 – Samsung Electronics South Africa is a fervent supporter of the Olympic Games and in particular, the ethos behind the global sporting event, which aims to encourage athletes to strive and to accomplish the exceptional. The competitors in the games are the elite that their respective nations produced, which means that those who stand at the top of the podium and receive gold are the leaders in their fields. These sportsmen and women never settle for anything less than being number one and are constantly striving to better their previous successes. A good example of this is South Africa’s own Olympic gold medalist, Cameron van der Burgh, who took the 100-metre breaststroke gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, setting a new world record with this feat. Despite his accomplishments on the ultimate stage, he has since gone on to win numerous World Championship medals and has twice won the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) overall World Cup. It is this intense desire to always be the best and to continue triumphing in every contest he undertakes that makes him a truly extraordinary athlete. “We are proud to name Cameron as our brand ambassador as he is focused, driven and precise, constantly setting standards of excellence and quality,” says Michelle Potgieter, Director for Brand and Communications at Samsung South Africa. Like the top athletes, explains Potgieter, these are traits that the Samsung brand shares and it too is driven to be a winner. For this reason, when customers purchase its products, they know that they are obtaining the gold standard and the best of the best. “Samsung has a long history with the Olympic Games and our mobile business is a global sponsor at the Rio 2016 Games. As part of our Olympic commitment, we want to give every Samsung customer a chance to experience their own version of Olympic success with our ‘Go For Gold’ promotion.” Customers purchasing any Samsung …