The Pneuma Academy of Excellence claims the highest success rate in the country for launching the careers of its graduates, with 90-95% placed into gainful employment. So what makes their training so unique and effective?
The Academy is headed by 2 gentlemen who are true masters of their craft. Wolf-Dieter Dorr and Michael Pneuma have a combined 90 years of jewellery-making experience, and it’s this first-hand familiarity with the manufacturing process that PAE believes is an absolute prerequisite in order to successfully train others.
Packaged into programmes that have been refined over 35 years into an intensive curriculum, they teach only the practically-relevant knowledge necessary to launch a successful career.
Sandile Sibiya, Bhekubaba Tembe and Boitumelo Zikalala: 3 students in the Super Artisan programme from the National Institute For The Deaf (NID), Bhekubaba will now become an instructor
The PAE philosophy embraces the selfless sharing of expertise in the field, from Dieter and Michael through their trainers – who hold over 100 years of cumulative experience – to their students. This takes place in real time, structured around the 14 fundamental processes required to manufacture each piece of jewellery to the highest standard. This hands-on approach has resulted in the training being accepted as fully outcomes-based worldwide, with Pneuma being the first and only jewellery manufacturer and skills provider to be accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (their list of endorsements also includes QMS ISO 9001-2008 Certification and MQA Accreditation).
They are also the only accredited provider in South Africa offering the Super-Artisan Programme (In-House designed & created by Pneuma), which can qualify successful candidates in two trades (as a Goldsmith, Setter/Engraver and/or CAD Designer) 50% faster than traditional methods which would produce the same outcome in double the time. All training is condensed to deliver exactly what the student needs in order to be highly effective and fundamentally employable. The Graduate Development Programme follows an internship model that provides a critical bridge between alumni from Universities of Technology and the working world. The apprenticeship-modelled Artisan Learnership Programme caters to those who have industry experience but need a qualification. Both programmes can each be completed in just 2 years and offer a subsidy so that financial concerns don’t affect students’ chances of earning their credentials.
According to the Development Bank of SA, “graduates who have had access to work experience during their studies had 82% more chance of finding employment”. In line with this research, PAE students are encouraged to develop their own client base and ‘earn while they learn’ under the Pneuma operating licence. The use of the Academy’s workshop infrastructure and the assistance of trainers while they work on each commissioned piece provide an invaluable springboard into the commercial arena, and all profits from the sale go to the student. The entrepreneurially-minded are identified and given specific coaching in this area.
All students receive dedicated mentoring directly from Michael Pneuma and their progress is closely monitored. Under his careful watch, those that need the most nurturing will receive extra attention. 90% of PAE students come from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Drive and passion is critical in the success of these individuals, catalysed by the Academy’s highly specialised and pragmatic instruction that virtually guarantees employment on completion. Over 40% of all graduates are classified as “Super-Achieving” – progressing to become teachers, managers and owners of sustainable SMMEs – with two exceptional ladies becoming the first Historically Disadvantaged South African (HDSA) teacher at CuT, and the first HDSA trade test official.
Notably, 3 students from the National Institute For The Deaf (NID) have excelled so far as to become Super-Artisans, one of whom now aspires to teach.
All PAE trainers are Super Artisans and, together with their students, have won a number of awards at prestigious jewellery events. Students’ work is also exhibited at the IJL London, HKTDC Hong Kong and Jewellex SA exhibitions, and permanently at Pneuma Jewellers.
The Academy insists that their success lies in a deeply rooted network of powerful alliances. 10 independent manufacturers in Cape Town are now integrating the PAE curriculum into their own in-house training and the MQA has agreed to support this initiative. Trade-tested Goldsmith Faldilah Volkwyn of CBAS has partnered with PAE to assist these manufacturers with their legislative and compliance requirements. Close linkages are being formed with other training centres and academic institutions to facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas and fine-tuning of curricula, and the JCSA, State Diamond Trader, JMASA and SADPMR are counted among PAE stakeholders.
In the pipeline is Phase II of their high-tech Hub, made possible by grant funding. Presently it houses design-spec computers for CAD-CAM and sales software as part of the SMME development programme. This is offered on an ad-hoc basis for now but will be grown and formalised once the Hub is fully operational. The grand plan for this space is for it to become a mass-production and specialised training facility capable of replacing 80% of the jewellery currently being imported with locally made pieces. They wholeheartedly believe this Hub can transform the jewellery industry by localising manufacturing and developing human capital, with an end goal of creating economic and political stability and changing the social dynamics of the country. No mean feat!
CPM wishes them all the best in their mission.
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The Pneuma Academy’s “doors are always open”
They may be contacted on the below details:
011 702 1462: Pneuma HQ
073 166 4375: Mike Pneuma
071 505 0890: Faldilah (CBAS)
071 880 3594: Mixalis (PAE)
http://pneumaacademy.co.za/
mikep@pneumaacademy.co.za
cbasfacilitation@gmail.com
mixalist@pneumaacademy.co.za