SAP Africa Chairman Pfungwa Serima
JOHANNESBURG – SAP Africa has launched its Skills for Africa programme in South Africa.
Some 75 talented young South Africans from across the country constitute the first South African SAP Skills for Africa class.
They come from a list of 1 000 applicants that were subjected to rigorous testing and interviewing procedures that resulted in a shortlist of 150.
The South African programme launched in Johannesburg represents collaboration between SAP Africa and local SAP customers and partners, including Accenture, ATOS, BMW, Consnet, T-Systems, Tata Consulting Services, Britehouse, Gauteng Provincial Government, MICT SETA and Multichoice.
These share a unified mission to promote economic growth and sustainable job creation.
The launch of the South African chapter will also see SAP Africa employees volunteering to mentor all the students.
Pfungwa Serima, Executive Chairman of SAP Africa, said with poor economic growth and a scarcity of ICT and business skills, the creation of sustainable jobs in South Africa was a priority.
“SAP Africa recognises that skills development with a view to concrete job creation is one of the best ways to deal not only with skills shortages facing the technology industry, but also help address South Africa’s chronic youth unemployment issue,” Serima said.
He said SAP was committed to driving business right across Africa, with the ultimate objective of improving people’s lives through the deployment of innovative industry-specific software solutions.
“This is not possible without developing the right skills and creating the right jobs in the communities in which we do business,” Serima added.
He applauded SAP our local partners and customers for their commitment and passion in paving the way for real career opportunities for dedicated young South African IT professionals.
SAP Skills for Africa is an integral part of SAP Africa’s commitment to train 10 000 ICT consultants across the continent by 2020.
The first chapter of the SAP Skills for Africa initiative was launched by SAP Africa and the Kenyan government in 2013.
Since then, the effort has also gained significant momentum in Morocco and now in South Africa.
Other SAP focus countries are being considered for 2016.
The SAP Skills for Africa Scholarship Program training takes place over a period of ten weeks and comprises a hybrid approach of classroom and e-learning that is fully-sponsored by SAP with no cost to the students.
The course focuses on internationally recognised IT and business skills.
The South African launch of the SAP Skills for Africa initiative follows the successful Kenyan graduating classes of 2013 and 2014, and the graduation last week of the first Skills for Africa class in Morocco.
– CAJ News