intelligent

In today ’ s rapidly evolving digital-first job market , the need for industry-specific skills is paramount . University education , while valuable , often falls short in preparing graduates for the fast-paced and technology-driven world of work . The Talent Acceleration Programme by Think Tank addresses this gap by focusing on enhancing employability through industryspecific IT certifications . Tebogo Moleta , Founder and MD of Think Tank , tells us more .

The persistence of skills shortage in South Africa

According to the report titled Africa ’ s Tech Skills Scarcity Revealed by leading software company , SAP Africa , the persistent scarcity of diverse ICT skills in South Africa remains unchanged . Notably , this shortage in ICT skills is impeding on-going Digital Transformation endeavours across the continent . Soughtafter skills include proficiency in emerging technologies , cloud , cybersecurity , data analytics , application development , software development , project management , Digital Transformation and change management .

Aligning education with industry needs

Many university courses , including those in Information and Communication Technology ( ICT ), offer broad curricula but lack the specific focus on what companies seek . The challenge lies in aligning academic curricula with the rapidly evolving needs of the ICT industry , which is dominated by global vendors adhering to distinct standards and technologies . This mismatch between static academic courses and dynamic industry requirements is where industry-specific certification programmes play a vital role . It is imperative for organisations to invest in such skills enhancement initiatives and training programmes to enable South Africa to fully leverage job creation opportunities and contribute to the growth of Africa ’ s digital economy .

Rapid certifications : a key to addressing skills shortage

The Talent Acceleration Programme offers a range of certifications from leading global tech companies , including Cisco CCNA