Johannesburg, 20 Jan 2012
Software company SAP and the Media, Advertising, ICT Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) worth R10 million.
The MOU was signed by SAP Research Internet Application and Services Africa (IA&S Africa) to work with the MICT SETA in supporting advanced human capital development in ICTs.
“MICT SETA committed R10 million over a period of four years towards the placement of PhD and Masters candidates in SAP IA&S Africa,” say the parties in a statement.
MICT SETA CEO Oupa Mopaki says the authority aims to be the key contributor towards the acceleration of ICT skills in the sector.
“This funding is but part of our mandate to accelerate critical and scarce skills through programmes such as the Advanced Human Capital Development Programme.”
He adds the funds provided as part of the partnership will fast-track high-level skills in the ICT sector and help reduce scarcity of such specialised human capital knowledge.
Dumping ground
Head of SAP IA&S Africa Danie Kok says the partnership will not only promote SA's participation in global competitive research programmes, but will contribute to the development of the national system of innovation by producing qualified PhD and Masters graduates with practical research experience.
Mopaki added that one of the challenges the SETA has identified is trying to place graduates in jobs. “Universities are not producing work-ready graduates, and through programmes like this, graduates get experience in the workplace.
“The dearth of PhDs in ICT in our country cannot go unaddressed. As a SETA, we have a responsibility to address skills needs at entry level, intermediary level, as well as high level. This MOU is one way in which we address this problem.”
The authority also says SA has become the dumping ground for ICTs, and so the country needs to start producing its own. For this, it needs to improve the level of skills in the country. “So that we can improve the knowledge currency of the country.”
Government partners
SAP IA&S Africa already has a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for the same programme.
The combined partnerships will see the number of candidates increase to 23, according to Kok.
SAP first partnered with the DST in 2006. “Since then, SA has seen over R140 million injected into ICT research and development activities. The partnership has also given rise to new and exciting innovations within the ICT sector, including the establishment of the SAP-Meraka Unit for Technology Development,” says the department.
It adds that in future, SAP and the DST aim to develop market-relevant software products and commercialise research outputs in the country, in collaboration with small, medium and micro enterprises.
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