Tech Giants Telkom and Associates Introduce Gratis AI and ICT Initiatives for South African Youths
The Telkom Foundation, in partnership with Microsoft and Netcampus Group, has launched an ambitious programme aimed at training 100,000 South Africans aged 13 to 29 in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. This initiative, known as the AI Fluency Course, is a part of the broader ICT Learnership program and is set to address the current gaps in technology education, empowering young people for future career opportunities in the AI and cybersecurity sectors.
The AI Fluency Course is a dynamic, 6-hour online course focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity. It includes a 30-minute expert-led webinar, designed to provide participants with foundational and intermediate skills in these high-demand areas. The course is available for free through the TelkomLearn platform.
The ICT Learnership program, which runs for 12 months, offers specializations in systems development, business analysis, telecommunications network, and marketing. Each participant will complete four months of training followed by eight months of work placements for experiential learning. Telkom is offering 210 learnership opportunities to unemployed South African youth through this programme.
The ICT Learnership program is accredited by the Media, Information, and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA). Additionally, Netcampus will sponsor 50 outstanding learners for further training and international Microsoft certification.
Judy Vilakazi, Head of the Telkom Foundation, believes the future of work is digital and reskilling youth with digital skills is a key solution to unemployment. She emphasizes that technology is a great equalizer, giving South African youth a chance to compete, create, and contribute to a better future. She encourages young South Africans to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to become future-ready.
This initiative aligns with Telkom's mission to advance youth empowerment and digital literacy in South Africa. By equipping 100,000 South Africans with critical skills for the 21st-century economy, the programme aims to position participants as innovators and leaders in the digital age. The AI Fluency Course and the ICT Learnership program offer value-added modules such as entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, design thinking, 4IR awareness, personal branding, and work readiness.
In conclusion, the AI Fluency Course initiative, part of the ICT Learnership program, is a significant step towards closing South Africa's digital divide and preparing young people for the future of work. By leveraging partnerships with industry leaders like Microsoft and Netcampus Group, the Telkom Foundation is ensuring the training is scalable, relevant, and aligned with industry standards, providing South African youth with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.
- The AI Fluency Course, a 6-hour online program, concentrates on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity, enabling participants to acquire foundational and intermediate skills in these high-demand areas.
- The ICT Learnership program, backed by the Media, Information, and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA), offers specializations in systems development, business analysis, telecommunications network, and marketing.
- The AI Fluency Course is accessible for free through the TelkomLearn platform, and the ICT Learnership program offers 210 learnership opportunities to unemployed South African youth.
- Netcampus will sponsor 50 outstanding learners from the ICT Learnership program for further training and international Microsoft certification.
- Judy Vilakazi, Head of the Telkom Foundation, underscores that technology and digital skills are essential to South African youth, stating that they are a key solution to unemployment and that technology functions as a great equalizer.
- The AI Fluency Course and ICT Learnership program are designed to position South African youth as innovators and leaders in the digital age by providing value-added modules such as entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, design thinking, 4IR awareness, personal branding, and work readiness.
