By Thomas Lethoba and Rorisang Monyela    The Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) are committed to the improvement of the quality of life Gauteng residents through the imparting of practical skills and the development of artisans and entrepreneurs.    The partnership between the department and Gauteng TVET Colleges and Universities across the province is being strengthened. One of the key objectives is to develop a sector based curriculum for practical training and development of Expanded Public Works Programme participants and artisans. The partnership is also targeting unemployed graduates for the world of work.    This came out during the third roundtable engagement held on Thursday the 29th of March 2018 at the project management of the department otherwise known as Lutsinga Infrastructure House. The discussions were led by MEC Jacob Mamabolo.    A training and development programme has already been developed and the University of Johannesburg is also dispatching some of its best Masters and Doctorate students to enrich the training programmes of the partnership. The first cohort of one hundred artisans and EPWP participants is set to undergo training as of April 2018.    ”The need for the development of qualified artisans to support the economy remains a high priority, especially when considering that a large number of qualified and competent artisans are required for the government's strategic infrastructure projects. Preference will be given mainly to artisans students for skills and training during this programme, prior to the point that DID is the home of construction”, said MEC Mamabolo.    Another key issue on the table was the apparent challenge of a workforce whose skill set is structurally out of sync with the demands of an increasingly knowledge-based economy. The department is set to launch a skills development centre of excellence in July this year in order to help address this challenge.    MEC Mamabolo said the centre would be known as the Moses Kotane Skills Training Centre. Further details would be unveiled in due course.