T-Systems CIDA ICT Academy reconfirms the real goal of corporate social investment

Corporate social investment (CSI) forms one of the key cornerstones of organisations' contribution to society. By definition, CSI entails organisations setting aside money, time or expertise to provide solutions for significant social problems.

However, often these efforts become run-of-mill and the results questionable. CSI is about making a tangible difference that can measured year-on-year - and it is not a clever marketing tool, despite the fact that it is often viewed as something that must simply be done for reputation's sake. But most importantly, CSI initiatives must be sustainable. Fortunately, there are also organisations that lead by example and make real-life differences to our society.

One such example is T-Systems CIDA City Campus ICT Academy in South Africa, which has since its launch in 2003 enrolled almost 800 students from disadvantaged communities. The academy, since inception, has had a sterling 'above 95%' pass rate, which is higher than some profit-making training organisations, and as well as an 85% employment rate in IT-related fields.

T-Systems has invested R3.5 million annually towards the academy since 2003. The remaining four partners (excluding T-Systems) offer financial contribution that is utilised towards rent, utilities and infrastructure, text books, tuition exam fees and student lunches.

Comments Mashnee Darmen, Programme Manager at T-Systems in South Africa: “The aim of the ICT academy is to create a pool of employable graduates with relevant ICT skills and competencies. These individuals should have the qualifications and skills to participate and contribute efficiently in a sustainable and competitive South African economy.”

Inspired by the success of the CIDA City Campus, a non-profit higher education founded in Johannesburg 1999, T-Systems together with partners CIDA, SAP, Sun Microsystems, CompTIA, Cisco Systems, DEG and Outlearning established the ICT Academy in 2003.

Currently, five of the seven founding members are still involved with academy.

“From a T-Systems perspective, we also endeavoured to establish a learning organisation that could provide us with access to ICT talent in order to overcome the country's skill shortage while also ensuring that we, as an organisation, support and comply with social investment and skills development best practices in terms of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE),” explains Darmen.

The ICT Academy curriculum comprises 70% theoretical training and 30% practical or workplace training where the students are placed at various organisations.

The ICT Academy has enjoyed a pass rate of 95% over the last seven years. Darmen believes the culture of the academy and the teachers has played instrumental role in this achievement. “Ten of our 14 teachers are former CIDA students; they identify with the students and their background and their approach is tailored, which has proved extremely successful.”

The high standard of learning and credibility of the ICT Academy has also been recognised by the Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies (Isett) SETA. Earlier this year the authority approached the academy to rollout two learnership programmes in some of the country's rural areas, benefitting approximately 200 learners. CompTIA has also added the ICT Academy to its database of corporate trainers, which is undoubtedly a feather in the cap of any local institution and again indicative of the standard of the curriculum.

As with many non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the ICT Academy is completely reliant on donor funds. “Our aim is to take it to the next level, so to speak. We would like to involve more South African corporates as the ICT Academy has proven consistently that it delivers qualified and skilled individuals that can bridge the current skills gap.

“Furthermore, it is a truly tangible way to demonstrate that CSI can really make a difference. An 85% employment rate is high by any standard. The ICT Academy has also proven its sustainability having been operational for seven years. We believe the academy is one of the ICT learning institutions of the future and will continue to set the benchmark for others to follow.” The ICT Academy, in the foreseeable future, will be moving its current training facilities, based in the Johannesburg Central Business District, to Lyndhurst.