Skills Development Summit
On May 19, the Information Technology Association (ITA), in conjunction with the JCSE and ITWeb, hosted the Skills Development Summit, to examine the relationship between the IT skills crisis and the world economic crisis.
18 May 2009
The event was held in Midrand and marked the launch of the 2009 ITWeb-JCSE Skills Survey, supported by the ITA and Computer Society South Africa (CSSA). The Survey will be carried out during June and July, with the results being announced at an executive forum in October 2009. The survey will also receive its usual coverage in ITWeb publications.
A broad range of speakers from government, academia and business expressed their views on the IT skills scene. Among them:
•· Dr Leila Goosen of the Department of Education outlined the plans for ICTs in schools.
•· Dr Harold Wesso updated the progress at the Meraka e-Skills Institute and commented on his recent visit to South Korea.
•· Ms Rubiena Duarte of Dell showed how employees can be engaged beyond their basic job role.
•· Mr Oupa Mopaki reported on the ISETT SETA's performance and explained how the new QCTO will operate.
•· Dr Andrew Paterson summarised reports about the ICT sector on behalf of the Development Bank and the HSRC.
•· Professor Barry Dwolatzky highlighted the partnership between academia and industry, as exemplified in the activities of the JCSE.
•· Mr Percy Mongalo of BUSA addressed the issue of employability versus employment.
•· Mr David Ives of Microsoft emphasised the importance of education and the involvement of young people and showed how Microsoft provides employment for 40 000 South Africans through its partners.
•· Mr Adrian Moorgas of Deloitte illustrated the different world faced by the "Net Generation", where multitasking, many jobs and speed to market are key factors.
•· Ms Janette Cumming of Paracon showed the gap between the graduates and their potential employers, emphasising the need for life skills when entering the employment market.
•· Mr Sean McLean of IBM indicated that the lessons coming from the 2007 colloquium were still relevant
In summarising, Mr Denvor Phokaners of Enablis stated that there is a clear need for a coordinating body to harness the needs and resources of the stakeholders and to influence the quality and scope of the education and training relevant to the IT Sector's requirements. He argued that qualifications need to be of the correct standard and at the right level and must also be supported by the skills that make the learner work-ready. "The expectations of graduates and employers need to be matched and people's capacity for change must be exercised to adapt quickly to the changing environment, accepting that life-long learning is necessary to maintain the pace demanded by the global economy", he said. He called on stakeholders to collaborate, both within their organisations and across the spectrum.
Mr Chose Cheou, the new President of the ITA, closed the summit with an exhortation to the industry bodies to work together, to take the issues and the data to government, and to ensure that we have the skills to deal with the skills crisis.