The Channelwise/CompTIA round-table discussion ended with some valuable advice about how to tackle South Africa’s IT skills shortages.
Employers must take skills development more seriously: Businesses increasingly rely on technology, so IT training cannot be a tick-box exercise. It’s a strategic enable for business success, so HR and IT need to work together to ensure the organisation has the best and most up-to-date skills.
AI and curriculum flexibility: AI is here to say – now we need to work out how it’s going to affect the different jobs; and ensure we include it into learning strategies. The relentless pace of technology innovation means we need to be flexible in training so graduates are work-ready.
Foundational skills: Probably the single most important factor. Foundational learning at school and within the IT discipline is key to better outcomes throughout a person’s career.
The digital divide: This is very real, and all roleplayers – schools, universities, training institutes, business and government – should work together to uplift more people.
Digital learning: Online training has its place, and can be a valuable tool, but corporates can’t just buy licences and expect workers to do the hard yards on their own.
Continuous learning: It’s vital that individuals take control of their lifelong learning journey, through formal training, short courses or webinars.