Siemens Training Institute: Supporting comprehensive access to telecom skills

While the telecommunications industry holds the potential to be a significant contributor to a country's economy, it does require specialist vendors to commit to the transfer of skills in localities.

Lucky Masilela, director of training at the Siemens Training Institute in Tshwane, says SA's telecommunications industry - like other technology related industries - faces a critical skills shortage that is unlikely to be addressed by traditional educational institutions.

"Telecommunications is an exceptionally fast-paced industry with new technologies emerging on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the majority of educational institutions do not have the access to emerging technologies nor the flexibility to be able to adapt quickly to changing market requirements," he says. "In the case of those facilities that are able to offer up-to-date programmes, they are mostly unable to offer practical experience."

Masilela says that while vendors investing in research and development have access to technologies before they hit the market, few of these are willing to extend their training programmes beyond employees and the companies that have invested in the solutions.

However, he says that Siemens has long recognised that this practice does not facilitate sufficient skills transfer and has opted to open its training facilities to the public at large.

"The role of the Siemens Training Institute is to ensure that any person or company that is interested in the telecommunications industry has access to relevant programmes that are up-to-date and immediately applicable following completion," Masilela says, adding that the company's programmes extend beyond traditional technical offerings.

"Although Siemens Training Institute does offer an extensive range of technical courses, we also offer programmes that address other market requirements," he says. "Understanding that the telecommunications industry has a wide variety of skill requirements, Siemens Training Institute has developed programmes that traverse the market spectrum."

As an example, Masilela says senior management charged with making strategic decisions are not interested in learning the nuts and bolts of telecoms systems; however, they still need to be up-to-date on trends, regulations and emerging technologies in order to make informed decisions to guide companies appropriately. Consequently, Siemens Training Institute has developed a 10-day modular course which delivers a holistic management view.

Committed to 'building skills in Africa for Africa', Siemens also uses the institute to aid the skills transfer aspects of its social development initiatives.

"Over the past four years Siemens Training Institute has financed and facilitated 340 learnerships that range from telecommunications to systems development - skills that are sorely needed in the local economy. And, of the 250 that have completed, more than 90% have found employment with Siemens' help," concludes Masilela.