INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA Presentation to: ISETT – Seta AGM Gala Dinner (09 April 2002) Sandton Convention Centre

ICT Skills Situation Need for high-level software, computing, telecomms, broadcast and related ICT skills 1996 HSRC study: shortage of 9’000 engineers in 5 years IT Staff Survey (CPL Survey, November 1998) on Brain Drain 29% of programmers 23% of analysts and systems analysts

ICT Skills Situation SA Human Development Index (HDI) 0,677, ranking 94th in the world (Statistics in Brief, 1996) BMI-TechKnowledge: ICT hardware, software and services market (excluding Telecomms) to exceed R40 billion in 2003, up from just under R20 billion in 1998 SAITIS Baseline Studies (2001): Only 23% of IT vendors spend in excess of R on IT training Impact of HIV/AIDS

Need for HR Development E-commerce era E-commerce bill presents new challenges with regard to the type, quality and magnitude of skills required Bridging the Digital Divide New possibilities brought about by new technologies It is now possible to bridge the digital divide. (Rich – Poor, North – South, Rural – Urban, Black – White, etc)

Need for HR Development (cont’d) Presidential International Advisory Council on IS&D Meeting (George, Oct 2001) Recommendation for establishment of ICT University The use of Open Source Software as a skills development platform President’s Commission on Information Society Geographic spread of skills Most skilled IT practitioners are concentrated in Gauteng and Western Cape

Need for HR Development (cont’d) Empowerment of youth & women To develop employability & entrepreneurial skills Open Source Software programme Java Planet ISSA

Seven HRD Priority Areas As identified by Cabinet: Development of adult basic education and training Learnerships Early childhood skills Public sector skills Scarce skills Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) Industry-education partnerships

SETAs Department of Labour Established through Skills Development Act no 97 of 1998 A key component of industrial development Levies, Quality Assurance Measures, Learnerships, etc Ensure skilling of workforce Promised to put 3000 learners into Learnerships by March 2002 Have delivered 3203 learners!

Learnerships (example) Institute for Satellite & Software Applications (ISSA) Started operating in 1998 Satellite Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology Historically Disadvantaged Science Graduates Women Rural

Learnerships (ISSA example) 180 plus graduates Current intake: 152 (49% Female) Website Development Factory 1 website per learner each month Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) Business Incubation for 50 graduates 30 Female Entrepreneurs Development of Future ICT Leaders/CEOs

ICT University Proposal processes have commenced: 2 or 3 Common Training Centres Inter-University collaboration by Computer Science & Engineering departments and faculties Inter-Ministerial Committee on ICT University

Opportunities South Africa, a key player in NEPAD ICT is a priority area for African development E-Africa Commission E-schools project (networking all African schools) EDUNET To make use of high speed, high bandwidth, Internet & satellite network for delivery of audio-visual learning material DoCWILLs, ISSA, ICT University, various universities & technikons

Recommendations Develop human capitals as a matter of high priority Identify potential sources of skilled labour (e.g. attract South Africans living abroad.) Work with the donor community on ICT programmes Linkages between industry, government and educational institutions Entrepreneurial development training Contribute resources towards the creation of ICT University

Thank You & Congratulations to New ISETT –SETA Board