IBM SA has launched SA`s second Linux Competency Centre at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
This follows the launch of Africa`s first Linux Competency Centre at the Wits University Johannesburg campus last month.
The centres, launched in partnership with Novell, Obsidian and SAP, provide open source software and open standards. University students can use the hardware in the centres for non-commercial purposes and to work on research projects.
Mark Harris, IBM country GM for South and Central Africa, says the decision to launch the centres was based on IBM SA`s commitment to Linux and open source.
Joe Ruthven, IBM SA`s business development manager for Linux and open source, says many customers are serious about Linux, but don`t always have the resources to get going with Linux-related projects.
"This centre offers customers a physical environment populated with a comprehensive variety of IBM hardware and software platforms on which they can run performance checks, proof of concepts and any other tests necessary before embarking on a project," he says.
"The mandate from the worldwide IBM Linux team, when it granted our application to establish Linux Competency Centres for Africa, was to do so in partnership with government and the universities, and to mirror the model tested in China, which has been highly successful," says Ruthven.
Professor Ken MacGregor, head of the UCT`s computer science department, says the centre will give students access to advanced Linux servers so that they can become competent before entering the industry.
"The objective is for students to conduct research in areas such as computer educational technology and high-performance computing on Linux platforms," says MacGregor.
"It`s mutually beneficial, as we will need development skills in the centre and the students will gain real-life experience on the projects," says Ruthven.
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