Collective X today announced the opening of applications for its co-funded digital skills initiative on Thursday, 19 September 2024.
With R50 million available for co-funding digital skills programmes, this initiative offers a valuable opportunity for employers to shape South Africa’s future digital workforce.
South Africa is facing a severe digital skills shortage, with 40,000 entry-level digital jobs needed annually, yet only 20,000 skilled individuals entering the workforce each year.
Collective X aims to bridge this gap by aligning quality entry-level skills with business needs, helping businesses stay competitive while creating sustainable employment for the nation’s youth.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Collective X plays a crucial role in coordinating a national digital skills strategy. It addresses market failures and unlocks demand-driven, scalable solutions to tackle South Africa’s digital skills crisis.
Mteto Nyati, Chairman of Collective X’s Board, commented: “Collective X’s co-funded digital skills initiative is a game-changer for both businesses and youth in South Africa. By collaborating with employers, we can ensure the right digital skills training, for the right price, to impact their future in the right way. Our mission is simple: to expand South Africa’s pool of skilled digital workers, and create meaningful jobs.”
The co-funded model provides a financially viable solution for employers to develop a skilled digital workforce at reduced costs. This employer-led initiative puts businesses at the forefront of shaping the digital talent pipeline to meet their specific needs. With national reach, employers across South Africa can participate, ensuring equitable access to this transformative opportunity.
The initiative covers all entry-level ICT professional roles, offering businesses flexibility in developing the skills that best suit their operations.
A key component of the initiative is its alignment with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). This ensures that beneficiaries of the programme achieve a minimum SFIA level 3 competency, providing employers with a talent pool that meets global standards. The SFIA framework is renowned for its flexibility and adaptability, ensuring that the digital skills developed through this initiative are relevant to industry demands and continuously updated to meet the evolving needs of the digital economy.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is another critical feature of the programme, embedding practical, hands-on experience into the learning journey. By incorporating WIL, young South Africans will have the opportunity to apply their digital skills in real-world settings, ensuring they are fully prepared to contribute to the workforce from day one. This practical exposure helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making graduates work-ready and valuable to businesses.
Employers and media interested in learning more about this co-funded initiative can visit www.thecollectivex.org and are invited to attend a webinar on 19 September 2024, hosted by Mteto Nyati and senior leadership from Collective X. The session, starting at 10am, will provide a detailed overview of the co-funding model, explain how employers can influence the development and quality of their digital talent, and offer an interactive Q&A.
Interested parties can register for the webinar at this link: bit.ly/3X59uww
