Address by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande on the occasion of the annual 2022 Huawei South Africa ICT talent development award ceremony held at Huawei Campus
Programme Director;
Director of Huawei South Africa, Mr Gene;
Deputy CEO of Huawei South Africa, Mr Kian;
Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology from the University of Johannesburg, Prof. Pitshou Bokoro;
Principal of Sedibeng TVET College, Dr. George Mothapo;
Lecturer and PHD Candidate from the University of Venda, Mr Kudakwashe Madzima;
My Ministry officials;
Officials from the Department;
Distinguished Guests;
Members of the media;
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am pleased to be part of this special occasion – of Huawei South Africa ICT Talent Development Annual Awards Ceremony celebrating and honouring the excellent Huawei ICT Academy Instructors for their outstanding contribution to the most needed ICT talent pipeline, more so during the 4IR era. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate all of your on your achievement. Keep you light shining and I am proud of you!!!
This occasion comes right on time as my department is entrusted a mammoth task of implementing the Skills Strategy for Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan post COVID-19.
The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) has identified the Communications and Digital Economy as important enablers in growing our inclusive economy.
In our Skills Strategy to support the ERRP which was concluded at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) in February 2022 , we have identified a number of Digital Skills Gaps in the Digital Economy both short to long term that such as Cloud Architecture; Cybersecurity; Data Centre Operations; Enterprise Architecture Development; Network Analysis, Control and Security; Block Chain; Data Science; Internet of Things; Machine Learning; Robotic Automation and so on.
I have also released the Report of the Ministerial Task Team on the Implications of the 4th Industrial Revolution for the Post-School Education and Training System and as Huawei South Africa, you have huge role to play in the implementation of recommendations arising out of this Report.
I am happy with your partnerships with our post school institutions especially with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA), colleges and universities, this is the only way, we will be able to massify skills development in our country.
If you ask me, our immediate challenge, it is youth unemployment especially for those young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years old which remains high at 61%, with over 3.6 million of the same cohort being not in employment, education and training (NEET).
At the centre of our new vision for the post school system, we envision a PSET system that provides:
- A strong core of education and training programmes that align with the changing needs of both South African society and the world of work in the context of the 4IR.
- Access to high-quality educational opportunities that meet a burgeoning and immediate demand for ‘digital skills’ in the labour market created by the 4IR and a parallel need for a new wave of South African innovators and entrepreneurs who will help to drive and shape the 4IR, to the social and economic benefit of all of its citizens.
- Massive increases in short-course skilling opportunities for unemployed and underemployed South Africans in parallel with wider government and private-sector efforts to rapidly grow new employment opportunities for those people.
- Growing emphasis on integrating into PSET programmes and courses learning opportunities that prepare people to be able to cope with accelerating change, both socially and economically, and those that emphasise key generic skills.
It is the reality that the world is on the threshold of the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is based on the confluence of multiple digital, physical, and biological technologies.
The 4IR is rapidly changing the way humans create, exchange, and distribute value, resulting in systemic change across many sectors and aspects of human life, with cross-cutting social, political, cultural, and economic implications.
The 4IR imperatives require drastic digital transformation and skills development. Digital transformation cannot happen without skills acquisition.
As my department is leading skills development to support ushering of a digital economy, there is indeed a need for strategic partnerships of this nature, like this one whereby Huawei collaborates with higher education institutions.
These partnerships are very important for the TVET sector and the higher education at large as they align the programme qualification mix and the curriculum design to the skills needs of the labour market and the industry.
With the above in mind, all PSET stakeholders must contribute in supporting production of new digital skills and the academic body of knowledge in line with the latest technological developments such as the internet of things, data analytics, robotics, augmented reality and virtual reality, big data, 3D and 4D printing etc.
Ladies and gentlemen
We are in the midst of the digital transformation era. Capacitation of our youth, Universities and TVET colleges including lecturer development in the new digital training programmes beyond our traditional academic programmes is the only way which will assist in addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality in the country.
I am glad to hear that this award ceremony is a result of a partnership between Huawei and the institutions of higher learning such as universities and colleges.
Partnerships amongst PSET stakeholders is music to my ears because it is a practical implementation of the White Paper for Post School Education and Training.
Huawei contribution:
Huawei holistic involvement in supporting the PSET goals is fascinating. I got a report that you are involved in the whole spectrum of ICT and digital capacity development such as training certification, curriculum development and customisation, updates on latest trends, connecting students with employers, internship opportunities offered to students by Huawei and its partners, work placement, training of the trainer programme, e-learning resources, simulation tools etc.
Digital skills development, ICT and innovation is one of the priority programs of my portfolio, so this event resonates with the strategic objectives of my Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
You will surely agree with me that our economy over the recent past to date has not been doing well and does not create enough employment opportunities for the youth hence employment creation is on top of the agenda of a developmental state.
Support to TVET colleges:
I am happy to learn that Huawei South Africa has already established seventy two (72) academies that saw 32 of our TVET colleges registering for the training and development including certification in ICT and digital skills development.
You deserve a pat at the back for implementation of this initiative benefiting about 5000 students. But I am challenging you to do more in scaling up student intake, lecturer development and TVET participation.
The number of instructors registered is fifty-six (56) but I am worried about the number of trainers certificated if it is only eight (8). This number is too low to cope with the size and magnitude of the task at hand.
I therefore urge you to ensure that the number of registered and certificated instructors is increased so as to build a labour pool of qualified trainers who will assist in massification of training including the training of trainers.
Involvement of South African Public Colleges Organisation (SACPO):
I was also informed about the role of SACPO in cultivating ICT talent development within all TVET colleges.
I want to encourage you to ensure that you push for active involvement of all TVET colleges beyond the thirty-two (32) that has been reported.
You must assist in supporting the implementation of the pipeline initiatives Huawei has planned going forward such as increasing the train the trainer programme, online student training, instructor and student support clubs, instructor and student workshops, job fairs linking students with employers etc.
Ladies and gentlemen
Employment creation and employability prospects:
This training came right on time as the country and the economy grapples with the effects of COVID-19 global health pandemic which saw majority of companies downsizing, restructuring and others retrenching employees in order to rationalise and reduce production costs to maintain liquidity and business continuity.
The Statistician General tells us that the six (6) out of ten (10) industries have not yet recovered from the COVID-19 global health pandemic, with these partnerships we will make an impact.
This award ceremony should be an inspiration to our youth who are interested in ICT and digital training as a career of choice.
Training in ICT and digital programmes will prepare and equip students with knowledge and skills needed not only for employability but to creatively develop innovative solutions needed to simplify production in various industries and improve service delivery in government. Students can also choose to become entrepreneurs and provide ICT solutions and employ others.
Skills strategy for economic reconstruction and recovery plan:
My Ministry is entrusted with a responsibility for education, training, skills development and innovation which is central to socio-economic development.
As we have just experienced the economic downturn, we are assigned with implementation of the Skills Strategy to support Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan of Government in order to assist the economy improve and create more employment opportunities. The award ceremony brings hope that we are on track.
It is in that context that all SETAs are expected to vigorously drive implementation of the National Skills Development Plan by identifying interventions to support the ERRP and provide funding to support implementation of various learning programmes such as short skills programmes, learnerships, internships, graduate placements, recognition of prior learning etc.
While MICTSETA has already partnered with Huawei to implement TVET programmes that benefited hundred (100) learners to obtain work experience over a period of 12 months.
I expect all SETAs to follow suit in their respective sectors as the technological changes affects all economic sectors which in which SETAs are driving skills development. Having said that, I do not underestimate the funding contributions made by both MICTSETA and Huawei to the value of R5.8 million and R1.4 million respectively.
The MICT sector is at the centre of National System of Innovation thus having to play a leading role in supporting the efficiency and effectiveness of digital skills development so that the economy can grow at a right pace to achieve the NDP objectives.
It is a good gesture that HUAWEI does not only focus on training and certification but also works with the MICTSETA in opening the doors for to the unemployed youth to gain workplace exposure.
Given the unemployment rate and skills shortages, the government alone cannot do everything without participation of other key stakeholders both in government and the private sector like private businesses / companies, SMMEs, NGOs, CBOs, civil society, etc.
I hope this training has enabled you to envision your employment prospects including employment creation and entrepreneurship which you must consider as it presents a platform for you to render your services and practice what you have learnt.
You will agree with me that there is lot of opportunities in the ICT sector as there is always a need for ICT solutions by individuals, communities and the corporates.
While Huawei focus has been more on formal skills, I urge you to also consider developing a short skills programme geared for community education and training for the revitalisation of rural and township economies to empower youth with basic ICT skills for the repair and fixing of electronic devises, mobile phones, tablets, televisions, installation of communication networks etc.
By so doing, you will also be empowering the marginalised to have access and be active citizens contributing into the mainstream economic activities. This will help reduce influx of those communities who are pressured to go to town to get those basic ICT services.
Ladies and gentlemen, this award ceremony is a wonderful moment, a day worth celebrating as it makes a contribution to the digital transformation efforts. Once more congratulations to all our students who will be receiving their awards today. Enjoy!!!
Thank you.
