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CoachLab ups innovative thinking

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 28 Jul 2009

Local universities have partnered to open the second CoachLab programme, in an effort to improve leadership development in the ICT sector.

The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the Innovation Hub and sponsors Microsoft and Barone, Budge and Dominick will open the CoachLab at the JCSE.

The Innovation Hub developed and founded the CoachLab concept over eight years ago. The CoachLab, at the JCSE, is the second such facility and is the start of a country-wide roll-out.

The CoachLab is a nine-month post-graduate leadership development programme, which aims to instil business principles and the value of innovative thinking into ICT post-graduate students. In December 2008, 16 postgraduate students successfully completed the CoachLab programme.

The JCSE notes the opening of the CoachLab initiative will address two key concerns. The rapid rate of change of new technology entering the market on a near-daily basis has seen industry overtake academia in terms of knowledge and innovation, and this needs to be addressed, notes the JCSE.

Access to technology, which has also made basic skills obsolete in several study fields and the growing need for students to innovate on existing technologies, is also a growing concern.

“The relationship between technology, academia and the corporate world needs to evolve - we would like to see more science and technology PhDs sponsored by corporates. This would develop the culture of innovation in this country still further,” says David Ives, head of Microsoft SA's developer and platform group.

Improving skills

Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the JCSE, says the initiative will help the JCSE grow local skills capacity so graduates can deliver world-class software. He notes this can be achieved by providing participating students with an opportunity to do post-graduate studies, along with project-based training, business development and soft skills training.

“The CoachLab helps universities retain post-graduate students and promote skills depth in the country and fast-tracks the assimilation of graduates into the world of business through action- and project-based learning. The programme also identifies leadership potential, accelerates leadership development and creates an awareness of the value of innovative thought to create competitive advantage,” he says.

Carl Marnewick, head of the UJ's Department of Business IT, notes there is a big divide between IT and business, and the programme can help students fill any gaps. He says the curriculum will give students a fair understanding of the business implications of IT investments and the value IT brings to business.

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