A new public-private partnership has established a systems support engineer IT learnership programme to equip students with technical and practical business and people skills.
The new Systems Support Engineer IT Learnership was launched in Midrand yesterday by Siemens Southern Africa, German Technical Co-operation GTZ, the Information Systems Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (ISETT SETA) and the Durban Institute of Technology's Centre for Skills Development and Technology Transfer (CSDTT).
Speaking at the launch, ISETT SETA CEO Mateli Mpuntsha said 200 students would benefit from the pilot phase of the programme. He said the programme would help improve the quality of IT skills in the industry and help to redress the imbalances in an industry that was still seen as "pale and male".
Described as a systematic and formalised approach of capacity building for high-potential candidates, the IT learnership leads to an internationally recognised national certificate in a specified field. It incorporates the National Certificate in Computer Science in collaboration with the CSDTT as a one-year programme in line with international certifications.
The initiative will combine on-the-job training with theoretical knowledge, with students taken into an actual working environment. Siemens Business Services will act as the lead employer.
Speaking at the launch, Adrienne Bird, deputy director-general of the Department of Labour, endorsed the programme as meeting national imperatives in developing a skilled labour force in the sector.
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