FEATURE: EDUCATION
Immersive placement approach in IT
South African businesses are suffering from a broken graduate placement system. Current methods are placing unprepared IT graduates into roles and exposing critical skills gaps. This is impacting business operations significantly. But a Skills-integrationas-a-Service model is a proven solution.
Only half of IT graduates are considered fully prepared for immediate employment in their field, resulting in technology skills gaps that are directly affecting the operations of 65 % of businesses in South Africa.
Companies are aware of all the ways IT skills gaps impact their businesses, and they really do want to be part of an increased flow of talent through the IT pipeline, but they must focus on their core business.
Skills-integration-as-a-Service, is tackling these gloomy statistics head-on with a revolutionary model that creates a collaborative ecosystem of technology talent, corporate partners, and their experiential learning hub.
redAcademy selects young South Africans to train for QCTO and MICT SETA-accreditation. During months one to six, candidates – called Sprinters – study the theory in their chosen fields. For the full programme, Sprinters are embedded in the live business environment, operating within client companies.
Months seven to 12 immerse candidates in real world experience, deliver enterprise technology solutions while redAcademy oversees and hosts the full programme in the live client space, and manages candidates’ delivery.
Recruiting for critical roles incurs significant cost for companies and miss hires are expensive not only in monetary terms, but in disruption to business operations. Sprinters’ Jessica Hawkey, MD redAcademy delivery of work into the client’ s business is evidenced while trained by redAcademy inside the live environment. Once they enter full-time employment, they contribute to the team from their first day. The amount of time, money, energy and benefit this brings to the business is significant.
During the interview process, Sprinters have the confidence to speak directly about the benefit that they have already given to the company, and they also understand why they want to be a part of that organisation, which is known to them just as the candidate is known to the organisation.
In the current South African context where businesses and youth face enormous challenges, the potential of the immersive approach is positive. By bringing together talented youth and the strategic needs of business using a pioneering Skills-integration-as-a- Service approach, an ecosystem is created that not only fills the IT talent pipeline but ignites South Africa’ s digital revolution.
Left to right: Ahmed Mahomed, Group CEO Datacentrix; and Professor Andrew Crouch, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at Sol Plaatje University student counselling and data-driven decision making can significantly improve student success rates.
However, ethical considerations remain a critical concern. Professor Crouch urged caution, stressing the importance of ensuring that AI developments align with human values and social good.
“ We are so consumed with the advantages to be extracted, but should tread with caution, reflect, and ensure that as human beings, we act in a humane way,” he noted.
“ This means making choices
The Datacentrix Education Indaba 2025
that support humanity, ensuring that the right steps are in place in terms of training and connectivity, thereby enabling South Africa to take quantum leaps through broader access to technology. Then, the sky will truly be the limit.” p
48 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www. intelligentcio. com