A recent Business Day Focus 4.0 conference brought to you by the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) and in partnership with Takealot Group, SAS Institute, Datacentrix, Sybrin SA, PNet and Vulatel focused on innovative technologies, a data-driven approach, and the skills required to meet the demands of an expanding digital agenda.
The keynote address was delivered by Abejide Ade-Ibijola, professor of artificial intelligence (AI) and applications and head of the Innovation Lab at the JBS, who spoke about the technological skills shortage in SA.
Though there are growing opportunities in the technology space — and no shortage of money to pay for them — few young people have the necessary skills to benefit from these opportunities, said Ade-Ibijola.
Universities equip students with theory, but that needs to be augmented with practical skills. Though online courses and YouTube videos help with upskilling, they are not recognised by employers.
He said the solution is to train students while they are studying. JBS’ Innovation Lab encourages students to build a portfolio of projects and work experience by the time they graduate, so they are employable.
The lab keeps a portfolio of skilled students and flags at-risk students with their Predict Your Mark app who are given the opportunity to perform better.
Ade-Ibijola said students tend to thrive in an environment where help is available and trainers are dedicated.
“There is no joy in qualifications without skills, it makes no sense,” he said.
‘The right skills with the right people’ Dawie Nel, CIO of Vulatel, said while getting the basic infrastructure right is crucial, the artisans and technicians who install and maintain that infrastructure are as essential. They need to be trained, motivated and acknowledged, so they are encouraged to start their own businesses to service the infrastructure. “Invest in the right skills with the right people,” said Nel. “Good qualifications are important, but so is the mindset. An employee who understands the full scope of the business, and who is given responsibility and accountability, will be committed and motivated to deliver, and his skill set must be rewarded.” If SMEs are to be the future of SA’s economy, those businesses need a commitment of five years of continuous support and mentoring from big companies to ensure they survive, he said. Paul Byrne, head of data insights at Pnet, advised brands to get proactive in their relationships with staff and build reputations as good employers who grow careers, retain staff and become companies employees aspire to work for.
The core skills needed for the future should be introduced at schools, along with “creativity, social skills and leadership qualities”.
Ahmed Mahomed, CEO of Datacentrix, said the youth must be educated to compete in the global environment and that there is a corporate responsibility to ensure schools get the fundamentals right, given the wide digital divide between private and state schools.
Digital transformation disrupts the established business model, he said. Among other issues, cybersecurity becomes vital, influencing the choice of employees recruited by a business. “Decisive action is needed to direct the ship in a different direction,” said Mahomed.
The power of the digital economy is that there are different business models for different needs — a merging of the old legacy system with the new digital needs, said Karabo Moloko, CEO of Sybrin SA. A range of skills is needed to achieve this, with flexibility and communication on both sides
Excerpt taken from Business Day Live online.
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