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SOUTH AFRICA INTRODUCES A NEW QUALIFICATION TO SUPPORT TECH SKILLS CREATION
UiPath , a leading enterprise automation software company , has collaborated with the Media , Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority ( MICT SETA ) in South Africa to develop the first national qualification in Robotic Process Automation ( RPA ) in the Europe , Middle East and Africa region .
The initiative aims to provide the workforce of the future with valuable tech skills and will potentially have a positive impact on youth unemployment by creating new jobs in software development , setting up for further growth the expanding automation ecosystem in South Africa .
“ South Africa has seen the emergence of a strong automation ecosystem , which includes forward-thinking enterprises that have made intelligent automation a priority , automation services providers and universities , which teach their students automation skills to prepare them for the workplace of the future ,” said Mark Gibbs , President , Europe , Middle East and Africa at UiPath .
“ Automation adoption has led to the creation of new roles ; however , the need for qualified automation talent is acute . This qualification is set to provide companies with the next generation of talented RPA Developers and help narrow the current skills gap in the country ,” he added .
Recent research points to skills shortages being among the most significant business risks facing South African organisations . According to the 2022 JCSE – IITPSA Skills Survey , RPA skills are among those recording ‘ significant shortages ’, alongside information security , Big Data design and analytics and Artificial Intelligence , for which demand exceeds supply by a big margin .
For this reason , the introduction of the national qualification in RPA is well positioned to help address the current shortage of RPA skills in South Africa . It will empower workers with the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the field of automation , which is becoming ubiquitous across industries .
Considering how unemployment among South Africa ’ s youth is a pressing issue , the development of a standardised qualification in RPA will provide a clear and defined career pathway for individuals interested in this field , ultimately delivering a positive contribution to the local economy .
According to MICT SETA , the National Qualification in RPA will prepare young professionals and the current workforce to deal with the disruptive effects of new technologies . The qualification will also enable young professionals to innovate and create new products and services across industries .
“ We are hopeful that by means of this qualification , we will bridge the current shortage of skilled labour within the ICT and digital industries and ultimately , increase the youth employment rate in South Africa ,” said Matome Madibana , CEO , MICT SETA . �
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