The 2012 Oracle graduate programme kicked off this week in Johannesburg, and has taken on 25 new graduates with a focus on ICT skills development and training.
Wendy Beetge, who heads up Oracle's transformation and CSI programmes, says the company aims to invest in ICT skills development, help address the IT industry's skills shortage, bridge the education gap and grow the country's economy.
“The ultimate objective is for us to employ [the graduates] within Oracle, depending on Oracle's business needs and HR capacity. There is also a huge demand for our graduates from partners and customers looking to employ them,” explains Beetge.
Oracle's annual graduate programme has been running since 1998. Graduates join Oracle for a 10-month course that includes a generic induction followed by specific learning paths that include classroom training and workplace experience. Some graduates travel overseas to gain international exposure.
Beetge adds: “One of the new modules we've added this year is called Tomorrow's Leaders. It includes two days a month of classroom training with specific assignments. It's very hands-on; they are given workspace experience and get integrated into business.
“For this year, the ultimate objective is to have ideally 100% young graduates coming out of the programme that are fully employable and ambassadors for Oracle and SA. The opportunities and workplace experience the graduates receive stays with them in their careers. Sometimes they volunteer at future graduation programmes and projects as a way of giving back.”
Last year, Oracle rolled out its first six-month skills development programme in the Western Cape in order to meet the demand for software and design skills in the region. According to Beetge, 15 graduates were selected. She says this initiative will be extended to this year as well.
As part of the Western Cape programme, Oracle partnered with the CIO Forum, the Centre for Research in Africa, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and the Black IT Forum. The programme specifically worked with the youth to train software programmers in Java and other Oracle platforms.
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