The meetings with the federal institutes provided an opportunity for the delegation to strengthen the partnerships between South Africa and Germany especially in higher education and training matters. The German Year of Science 2012 which will be launched in April 2012 was one among many outstanding examples of the German Federal Government's Strategy for the Internationalization of Science and Research carried out together with a strategically important partner country and, focused on research, education and innovation. The Committee was invited by the German government to be part of the launch of this event in April 2012. The South African - German Development will launch the new Green Skills programme in early 2012 which would assist the country in developing its Green Skills programme.