The Media Information Communication and Technologies Sector Education Training Authority (MICT SETA) and the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) are set to host the inaugural 4IR Research Symposium and Expo, marking a pivotal moment for South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) research landscape.
Scheduled for 25-26 October 2024 at VUT’s Vanderbijlpark Campus, the event will also launch the MICT SETA-VUT 4IR Research Chair.
The two-day symposium, under the theme “Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Future Skills,” aims to significantly enhance South Africa’s 4IR scientific research and innovation capacity.
It will bring together leading scholars, industry professionals, and government representatives to explore the implications of emerging technologies, focusing on skills development in generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Matome Madibana, Chief Executive Officer at the MICT SETA, emphasise the importance of the event: “This symposium represents a concrete initiative by the MICT SETA to substantively contribute to South Africa’s efforts of positioning itself as a key 4IR player in the global arena. It ensures that the country’s curricula, innovation, and skills development programmes reflect the demands of the current 4IR era.”
The symposium is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications of 4IR technologies, particularly in generative AI. Students from various MICT SETA 4IR Research Chairs, alongside renowned experts in digital innovation, will present their research and participate in dynamic panel discussions. Industry showcases will highlight cutting-edge digital innovations, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of 4IR technologies.
VUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Stephen Khehla Ndlovu, shared his excitement about the partnership and expressed gratitude to MICT SETA for its confidence in VUT as a co-host.
On the launch of the MICT SETA-VUT 4IR Research Chair, Prof. Ndlovu remarked: “This is an important milestone, not only for our university but for the entire research ecosystem in South Africa. By collaborating with the MICT SETA, we are strengthening our capacity to produce the high-level skills and innovative solutions that our country needs to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” He added that VUT has ample research and innovation expertise to support MICT SETA’s contributions to 4IR scientific research and innovation.”
The MICT SETA’s broader 4IR Research Chair initiative, rolled out across multiple public and private universities in South Africa, provides funding for Masters and PhD students conducting research on various 4IR technologies. This year’s symposium will serve as a platform for emerging scholars to share their findings, exchange ideas with industry leaders, and help shape South Africa’s 4IR trajectory.
In addition to academic presentations, the symposium will feature a keynote address on generative AI and its potential to transform the skills landscape, touching on workforce needs, curriculum adaptation, and the roles of government, academia, and industry in preparing the next generation of professionals.
The official launch of the MICT SETA-VUT 4IR Research Chair will take place on the second day, cementing the partnership’s commitment to fostering innovation in 4IR technologies.
“This partnership is about more than just research,” says Madibana. “It’s about building a pipeline of talent and creating the necessary infrastructure to drive long-term technological advancement in South Africa.”
The insights and discussions generated during the symposium will be compiled into a comprehensive conference report, to be published in the months following the event. This report will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders, offering recommendations for advancing generative AI and other 4IR technologies in South Africa’s skills development ecosystem.
MICT SETA has partnered with Empire Partner Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on technology, to provide work-integrated learning programmes for university students to help close the skills gap and reduce the unemployment rate.
About thirty students from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa have already benefited from this work-integrated learning programme.
Currently, more than half of young people do not have the necessary skills to succeed in industry IT.
The programme offers students the opportunity to find employment in the technology sector as it further educates them with the knowledge gained at Tshwane University of Technology.
MICT SETA focuses on skills development to support meaningful economic participation for young people, while EPF supports young people in Africa through technology-based initiatives.
In April 2022, 30 students from the Tshwane
University of Technology participated in the EPF Innovation Campus as part of a Work Integrated Learning Programme in partnership with MICT SETA.
