IOT solutions provider 1Worx has partnered with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to launch what it calls Africa's first Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) laboratory, situated at the TUT Soshanguve campus.
The Emerging Laboratory is designed to offer engineering students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to learn and use cutting-edge IIOT solutions to not only increase their future employability, but also to enable them to systematically utilise a variety of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies required in the engineering field.
1Worx has provided the university with its ThingWorx industrial IOT platform, which consist of tools that will enable students to develop and deploy powerful IIOT applications and augmented reality experiences.
The collaboration with TUT forms part of PTC's IOT Ambassador Programme, which aims to encourage South African universities to be at the forefront of emerging technologies through the use of Thingworx as a platform of choice for IOT solutions.
Thembisile Sizwe Mngadi, device engineer at 1Worx, explains: "Inside the labs you will find numerous projects that the students are currently working on such as a smart house which will be linked to the Thingworx platform to educate students about smart homes. There is also an autonomous mining truck, GPS systems and IOT work stations, designed for testing applications and more.
"Students can also gain a wealth of knowledge from an exciting, investigative learning experience with hands-on exposure to an application development platform that they may not get in current classroom curricula.
"The programme teaches the skills demanded by leading IT employers. Providing an IOT education that is relevant to industry needs, ensures gainful employment of graduates and prepares them for future innovators and entrepreneurs."
The Thingworx platform can also be used for research and development purposes, assisting students with dissertations, and the university to conduct different types of research.
"The idea of equipping young minds with the tools needed to create ground-breaking industrial solutions within the confines of Africa is exciting," CEO of 1Worx Duan Gauch'e explained.
"Through PTC's IOT Ambassador Programme for ThingWorx, students will understand key concepts of IOT and how to apply them immediately to specific use cases," he continued.
1Worx employees have dedicated their Saturdays to help TUT students learn how to use the software, allowing educators to focus on their discipline.
"After entering the corporate world, I realised that there is a knowledge gap between tertiary classroom education and workplace experience. I have found that not having a clear picture of what happens after university, coupled with a lack of practical experience, often prevents computer system engineering students from thinking outside the box. I believe that this initiative will empower students to think big and beyond what they learn in textbooks, thereby allowing them to do bigger and greater things," adds Mngadi.
Thulani Mazibuko, educational manager for productONE at 1Worx, says the engineering field has evolved significantly in the digital age.
"The skills to support the 4th Industrial Revolution still need to be fostered and as companies start to explore the opportunities, the demand for IOT solutions, augmented reality and machine learning will increase.
"Products have become more complex and smarter, and engineering courses are playing catch-up. Advancements in robotics, additive manufacturing and the Internet of things are forcing educators to re-write course curriculums to cater for products we never envisaged in our lifetime."
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