A Sybase Academy initiative is producing the hands on, skilled and enthusiastic "techies" that are in such short supply in South Africa. Tony Nutter, MD of Sybase S.A. says, "We produce people who can do the job. The fees are kept to a minimum, covering our costs. We believe that only when companies take it on themselves to make a commitment to training and so start topping up the numbers in the IT employment pool will South Africa be able to maintain those standards that create business stability and growth."
Students come from all walks of life. Nutter says that newly matriculated youngsters, including previously disadvantage individuals, from all areas and older professionals embarking on a career change, have gone through the mill successfully. "We have confidence in our selection process. Our aptitude test, specially designed by Professor H van der Walt of Unisa, looks at areas like logic and language comprehension. Our failure rate is remarkably low and our graduates are very competent."
Once selected the students are either trained as programmers, with skills in object-oriented programming, or as database administrators, trained in the Sybase database with a strong understanding of relational theory. The cost to the student for the three and a half-month course is R2000, which pays for their books. Each student has their own dedicated workstation at the Sybase headquarters in Woodmead. They work on a network, using the Internet and servers, learning the tasks that are associated with systems development and maintenance.
The course is tough with regular tests, which must be passed, to ensure that the student is continually building on a sound base of previously learned skills and knowledge. Strict discipline in the application of good design and development principles is maintained. "They develop a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose and assist each other to overcome individual problems. They learn to work as a team. This is essential when they go out to their new positions, as successful systems development and maintenance relies on competence and co-operation", comments Nutter.
Graduates are awarded an internationally recognised Sybase certificate. Sybase Academy has also applied for National Qualifications Forum recognition.
Graduates are placed with client companies for a fee that pays for the infrastructure costs for the course. "This is considerably less than would be paid to a placement company. Many of our graduates have progressed rapidly."
"Sybase Academy has such confidence in the performance of these programmers and database administrators that some are employed by them straight from passing the course", says Nutter.
"A qualification is not enough. The ability and confidence to apply the skills is essential."
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