INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA Presentation to: ISETT – Seta AGM Gala Dinner (09 April 2002) Sandton Convention Centre

ICT Skills Situation n Need for high-level software, computing, telecomms, broadcast and related ICT skills 1996 HSRC study: shortage of 9’ 000 engineers in 5 years IT Staff Survey (CPL Survey, November 1998) on Brain Drain n n 29% of programmers 23% of analysts and systems analysts

ICT Skills Situation n n SA Human Development Index (HDI) 0, 677, ranking 94 th in the world (Statistics in Brief, 1996) BMI-Tech. Knowledge: ICT hardware, software and services market (excluding Telecomms) to exceed R 40 billion in 2003, up from just under R 20 billion in 1998 SAITIS Baseline Studies (2001): Only 23% of IT vendors spend in excess of R 100 000 on IT training Impact of HIV/AIDS

Need for HR Development n E-commerce era n n E-commerce bill presents new challenges with regard to the type, quality and magnitude of skills required Bridging the Digital Divide n n New possibilities brought about by new technologies It is now possible to bridge the digital divide. (Rich – Poor, North – South, Rural – Urban, Black – White, etc)

Need for HR Development (cont’d) n Presidential International Advisory Council on IS&D Meeting (George, Oct 2001) n n Recommendation for establishment of ICT University The use of Open Source Software as a skills development platform n President’s Commission on Information Society n Geographic spread of skills n Most skilled IT practitioners are concentrated in Gauteng and Western Cape

Need for HR Development (cont’d) n Empowerment of youth & women n To develop employability & entrepreneurial skills n n n Open Source Software programme Java Planet ISSA

Seven HRD Priority Areas n As identified by Cabinet: n n n n Development of adult basic education and training Learnerships Early childhood skills Public sector skills Scarce skills Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) Industry-education partnerships

SETAs n Department of Labour n Established through Skills Development Act no 97 of 1998 n A key component of industrial development n Levies, Quality Assurance Measures, Learnerships, etc n Ensure skilling of workforce n n Promised to put 3000 learners into Learnerships by March 2002 Have delivered 3203 learners!

Learnerships (example) n Institute for Satellite & Software Applications (ISSA) n Started operating in 1998 n Satellite Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology n Historically Disadvantaged Science Graduates n Women n Rural

Learnerships (ISSA example) n 180 plus graduates n Current intake: 152 (49% Female) n Website Development Factory n 1 website per learner each month n Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) n Business Incubation for 50 graduates n n 30 Female Entrepreneurs Development of Future ICT Leaders/CEOs

ICT University n Proposal processes have commenced: n n n 2 or 3 Common Training Centres Inter-University collaboration by Computer Science & Engineering departments and faculties Inter-Ministerial Committee on ICT University

Opportunities n South Africa, a key player in NEPAD n n ICT is a priority area for African development E-Africa Commission n n E-schools project (networking all African schools) EDUNET n n To make use of high speed, high bandwidth, Internet & satellite network for delivery of audio-visual learning material Do. CWILLs, ISSA, ICT University, various universities & technikons

Recommendations n n Develop human capitals as a matter of high priority Identify potential sources of skilled labour (e. g. attract South Africans living abroad. ) Work with the donor community on ICT programmes Linkages between industry, government and educational institutions n Entrepreneurial development training n Contribute resources towards the creation of ICT University

Thank You & Congratulations to New ISETT –SETA Board