Nelspruit — Mpumalanga communities in and around the farming town of Standerton will for the first time have access to cyber facilities at their doorstep.

This was made possible by a partnership between Gert Sibande Further Education and Training College and information technology company, Gestetner.

College spokesperson Jabu Mhlabane said the new technology centre, which has 15 multi-media computers, would offer Internet, e-mail as well as photocopying, faxing and printing services to both ordinary community members and students.

Ms Mhlabane said the GS College Techno Centre would help college students gain practical experience that prepares them for the workplace.

"Employers often complain that [tertiary institution graduates] don't have practical skills to offer. This centre will attempt to address this shortcoming by exposing students to real work situation," she said.

College director Dr Henry van Zyl will open the centre on Thursday this week.

"If everything goes well with this pilot centre, it will be duplicated in other college branches within the Gert Sibande region," Ms Mhlabane said.