The Department of Communications (DOC) is encouraging the uptake of studies in the ICT field at the ICT Career Expo, in Midrand, this week.
The department is hosting the expo through the Meraka e-Skills Institute, in conjunction with Telkom SA. The expo is held under the theme: The e-Generation, Building Capacity for an e-Society.
“The aim of the expo is to provide young people with information on career opportunities and options available in the ICT industry,” says the DOC.
It says the expo will give students a chance to experience and interact with ICT professionals, and share their knowledge and experiences of working in different ICT companies.
“Young people will have an opportunity to see exhibitions from the DOC and different ICT companies such as Torque IT, Trade and Industry and Education, Telkom SA, Microsoft SA, Cisco SA, Neotel, Nemisa, Meraka Institute, Motorola, Naledi 3D and CSIR.”
Bridging gaps
Deputy communications minister Dina Pule officially opened the expo. She said more young people need to consider careers in the ICT industry, as the country is moving towards a knowledge economy, which needs such skills to move to a higher economic trajectory.
“The country is facing high unemployment rates among the youth and to alleviate this youth unemployment, the department is encouraging the youth to think about careers in the ICT industry.”
The National Master Scarce Skills List, published by the Department of Labour, in 2008, gives an overall view of the ICT skills demand in SA, says the DOC.
“This report indicates that SA has a critical shortage of nearly 37 565 ICT workers in such areas as diverse as sales, human resources and technical workers.”
However, the department adds that the “Networking Skills in SA” study by the Industrial Development Corporation indicates organisations face an increasing shortage of people with networking skills.
“There is a need to bridge the proverbial divide between the ICT industry and the ICT education sector. I hope the ICT Career Expo exposes and encourages the youth to be interested in the industry,” said Pule.
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