FEATURE: EDUCATION
How AI is impacting higher education in South Africa
By understanding the implications of Artificial Intelligence on higher education, South Africa will be in a stronger position to take advantage of the potential benefits of the technology while minimising its risks and negative consequences. This was the opinion of both Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist, Econometrix, and Professor Andrew Crouch, Vice- Chancellor and Principal at Sol Plaatje University, who were speakers at the recent Datacentrix Education Indaba. stay ahead of global innovation, and pave the way to a sustainable future.
In his keynote address, Dr Jammine provided a fiscal overview, highlighting South Africa’ s slow economic growth compared to global trends. He highlighted the fact that declining infrastructure investment has affected funding for higher education funding, influenced by a 50 to 60 % drop in construction activity between 2015 and 2023, coupled with reduced investment in high-technology sectors.
The event was sponsored by Platinum Sponsor, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, including HPE Aruba Networking; Gold Sponsors including Fortinet, Exclusive Networks, HP Inc, ManageEngine, ITR Technology and Rubrik; and Display Sponsor, Accord Business Group.
Held at Zebula Golf Estate and Spa in Limpopo, the focus of the Datacentrix event was on how harnessing technology can help South Africa’ s higher education institutions to address critical challenges and priorities,
AI and employment
Dr Jammine also explained that there is currently a skills mismatch in South Africa, with unemployment rates remaining high at 33 % in 2024, and many graduates struggling to find jobs due to a lack of STEMrelated qualifications.
Observing that AI is expected to displace 92 million jobs globally by 2030, but on the other hand also
46 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www. intelligentcio. com