MIP has employed five learners who served an internship at the financial administration software company as part of a programme run in conjunction with Sybase SA and ISETT SETA.
The programme aims to develop previously disadvantaged individuals` skills to meet demand for professionals in the ICT sector.
"We were looking for young black learners and we were happy to work with people qualified by the programme," says Ingrid Askeland, head of the Quality Assurance and Documentation divisions at MIP. "It is important to undertake development programmes that form partnerships with the social and professional communities to ensure sustainability even after funds are exhausted. Skills transfer is one of the best methods for companies to interact with the communities around them and, once properly done, employment is the next logical step."
Evaluations began in June 2005 with aptitude, comprehension, understanding of English language and general and technical abilities tests. After two levels of interviews, a presentation skills test was conducted. Students had matric with mathematics and a minimum qualification of an IT technikon or college degree, certificate or diploma. Students then spent six months in the classroom before the practical internship at MIP that kicked off in February and concluded in July.
Three of the five MIP interns have gone into business intelligence and two into software development. Mentors were assigned to them as soon as they joined MIP`s internship programme and training was provided.
"After a brief introductory period, the teams they were assigned to accepted them. They`re all programmers and some of them are in a new department working on a business intelligence product writing reports for clients," says Askeland. "The two working as programmers are fully integrated into the teams and perform standard development work for our clients, including software maintenance and product development. The three BI specialists develop new reports for clients. They have been involved from the inception of a new team to address this need, and develop a data warehouse for each client that requires reports.
"Mentors offer guidance where necessary, assess the people every month and deliver feedback to Sybase and ISETT SETA," says Askeland. "Knowing that they were on trial put the interns under pressure to prove their worth in a company where all other developers are highly experienced. We also noticed some stress while they adapted to the change from being students to being workers in demanding teams where even newcomers are expected to contribute."
MIP has now employed the learners under standard employment contracts.
Share