by Staff Writer
A new IT skills development fund has been established for graduates from rural and semi-rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to expose learners to the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, in order to pave the way for South Africa’s future in these areas, according to Saurabh Kumar, CEO at In2IT.
The R2.6 million fund has been established by ICTmanaged solutions provider, In2IT, which has partnered with Nedbank and Moving Ahead Development Agency (MADA), a registered no- profit and public benefit organisation responsible for the implementation of National Skill Development, to create a new learnership programme.
In2IT and Nedbank will be funding the project and have invested a combined sum of around R2.6 million in kicking it off.
In2IT will also be providing the theoretical and practical training to qualifying graduates.
MADA came with a concept of developing unemployed IT graduates from the rural communities by sourcing funding and forging a partnership with Nedbank and In2IT.
“Typically, we have found that most learnerships available today are centralised around Gauteng and its surrounds. South Africa has a lot more talent to be unearthed further afield, which is why we want to direct this opportunity more towards IT graduates that come from more rural areas and other provinces, starting with KZN,” Saurabh Kumar, CEO at In2IT said.
He added learners will be exposed to the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics, in order to pave the way for South Africa’s future in these areas.
Tshepo Mokoena, MADA founder and executive chairman, said that one of MADA’s core focus areas is to identify passionate and bright minds in South Africa, and equip them to not only better themselves but also become agents of change for the betterment of our country.
“The learnership programme is one of the initiatives that speaks directly to that goal as it gives graduates from rural areas the opportunity to not only hone their necessary skills that will make a difference in their own lives, but that will also drive South Africa further into a digital era.
“We also, encourage innovative thinking with our skills development programmes, ensuring our future leaders and entrepreneurs are geared for an economy that is being driven by disruptive technologies and business models.”
