Vodacom kicked off its exciting new Graduate Programme for Females in Technology - a three-year graduate sponsorship programme inspired by the achievements of great women in the business and telecommunications industry - in Midrand on Friday 7 April 2006.
"With our Graduate Programme for Females in Technology (GPFT), Vodacom aims to provide a development opportunity for female graduates in the technology, IT and engineering fields to join our exciting telecommunications arena," says Dot Field, Vodacom Group Chief Communications Officer.
The group of 10 females who qualified for this graduate programme have completed either a BSc or BCom degree in mathematics, science, engineering or IT, and are interested in working in the telecommunications sector.
The GPFT programme is designed to develop the candidates` aptitude on a wide range of technical skills, engineering `know-how` and business acumen needed to contribute effectively to the design, development and maintenance of Vodacom`s mobile telecommunication systems.
A fixed term one-year contract forms part of the graduate programme and candidates are assessed for permanent employment at the end of year one for the remaining two years of the programme. Upon completion of programme the candidates will be awarded certificates of competence.
"Vodacom`s objective and investment is to empower women in the telecommunications field to achieve untapped possibilities and transformations through technology, leadership and economic development," says Field.
The GPFT programme provides these young women with hands-on experience, the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the telecommunications environment and to experience the Vodacom culture, innovation and pace of a large, successful organisation. They will also receive a competitive salary, free training and the option of participation in an international study tour at one of Vodafone`s affiliated operators during the third year of programme, based on their performance.
"The Graduate Programme for Females in Technology is a catalyst for Vodacom that will ensure the realisation of core strategic business goals through equitable practices," Field says.
She continues: "Business strategies can only be realised through people, therefore we must provide opportunities and the environment where high-calibre females can develop as individuals in technical roles, thus enabling us to assess organisational fit and appoint the best students, as well as address headcount restraints and overload."
Structure and content of the Graduate Programme for Females in Technology:
The structure of the programme is based on academic and technical competencies, personal and interpersonal skills of individual candidates, with the GPFT enhancing these further where gaps are identified. The GPFT programme can be summarised as follows:
First year - A four-week computer-based training facilitated by Vodacom`s Virtual Learning Centre, thereafter candidates will participate in a six-week telecommunications technician skills programme at Siemens. Upon completion of the initial 10-week training period, candidates will be exposed to the Vodacom operations/engineering environment during an 18-week period, consisting of five separate rotations.
Second year - The candidate will have the option to choose which division she prefers to work in for the next year or she can be allocated/transferred to the relevant Vodacom division, which is based on the recommendations from her Vodacom line manager (according to the strengths and talents of the candidate).
Third year - Candidates will be provided with an opportunity to participate in the Telkom Next Level Generation Network Professional (TDI-NGN) training programme which focuses on NGN (next-generation network) drivers, NGN technologies and NGN technology integration. The content of this programme will be modified to accommodate GPFT training requirements. Candidates could also participate in an international study tour at one of the Vodafone affiliated operators during this year.
Candidate profiles:
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