Financial services group, Absa, and the Department of Informatics at the University of Pretoria have joined forces to cultivate IT skills and knowledge in the South African market.
The non-exclusive partnership will see Absa and the Department of Informatics collaborate on education, training, recruitment and IT research projects.
Research will be conducted in areas of mutual interest such as e-business, e-commerce, security and customer relationship management. The joint investment of resources will enhance the capacity and scope of investigations.
The partnership will also involve staff exchange programmes and internships for students. This will afford graduates the experience and exposure to corporate networks and Absa will be assured of a fresh pool of talent from which to recruit rather than having to import skills.
"The country is experiencing a shortage of IT skills in distinct competencies. Our collaboration with the university and investment in training and growth is one way to counter the problem," says Dennis Farrell, people management, Absa Group IT.
Absa has been funding IT research undertaken by the Department of Informatics at the university for the past eight years. The new partnership agreement expands the scope of the relationship.
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