A second batch of interns yesterday started their training as part of Wipro Technologies' South African internship programme.
Following the successful completion of the first internship programme, which saw 20 of the 23 interns being placed on live projects at Wipro, the global IT, consulting and outsourcing company has recruited 40 new graduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds to take part in the latest programme.
"Wipro recognises that skills development and localisation are high on the agenda of both the IT industry and the government of South Africa," says Shailendra Singh, business director of the African region at Wipro.
Recruitment for the programme saw candidates being tested on their analytical, mathematical and basic English language capabilities. These tests were followed by individual interviews. The training curriculum is intended to bridge the gap between university learning and actual on-the-job work, says Singh.
"As an organisation, we hire 12 000 to 14 000 people every year, and 80% of that workforce is made up of recent graduates," he says. "What people are being taught at colleges and universities is not always relevant from a job market perspective."
According to Singh, Wipro has noticed a huge social similarity between SA and India. In India, less than 30% of graduates are employable straight out of university, he notes. "When we did social simulations, we realised that there is a similar situation here, and that is why we decided to invest in a project like this."
Wipro's belief is that one cannot do business in a country without being socially relevant. "If you bring in people from overseas, it is difficult for them to understand South African culture. For outsiders, it is hard to understand what a 'braai' is, for example, and it takes them maybe a month to figure out that a braai is actually a barbeque. Local workforces are far more culturally aligned."
Bringing in ex-pats is only a short-term solution to skills problems, Singh stresses. "Businesses need to create a global workforce. If we are able to find local talent and develop it, why should we go elsewhere?"
The level of skill that Wipro has found in the South African workforce outshines what they have been exposed to in the US or the UK, according to Singh, noting that they never expected the kind of success they have seen thus far.
The latest programme commences just over a year since the India-based company announced that it was planning to expand its staff three-fold in Africa over the next three years, as it looks to boost its presence on the continent.
"This programme is not about looking great in front of the local government. It is about developing the talent and making sure that the man on the street is able to find a job," Singh concluded. "In the long run, business projects should be self-sustainable, and the way to achieve this sustainability is to improve the skills of the local workforce."
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