For many years, the primary use of personal computers in the public domain was as a word processor, an alternative to an electric typewriter that allowed one to correct typos without painting them with Tipp-Ex. While the quality and abilities of the hardware have improved vastly, innovative software packages are responsible for the versatility of the modern PC. To optimise the benefits of this technology, however, many employers still need to provide their personnel with more opportunities for IT skills development.
Digital technology has not only revolutionised the way we bank, shop, enjoy entertainment, and work; it has also changed the world order. A decade ago, the United States was the world leader in this field, closely followed by Germany and the UK. Today, Japan, South Korea, and China are the dominant IT innovators, while the rest of the world battles to maintain a competitive edge.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are pouring millions into developing IT skills as a hedge against an uncertain future for oil. By contrast, South Africa is currently in 54th place, lagging behind countries like Mexico and Serbia in terms of our level of technological expertise.
Empowering South Africa’s Future Through {IT} Skills Development
Trailing behind in the 54th constitutes a severe threat to our nation’s economy. A study by the World Bank suggests South Africa could increase GDP growth by as much as 2,5% over the coming decade by addressing the shortage of computer-related skills with more IT training programs.
Information technology is a broad field with many applications, which, in turn, call for relevant expertise. The following are three of the areas most in demand by the technology industry:
- Software Development: Software is a generic term for computer programs that perform a specified function, like word processing, generating images, enabling video calls, or streaming educational material to remote learners. A skilled developer can create a software application to perform or assist with almost any task a business or industry must usually conduct manually. The fundamentals of Java programming are quickly learned, and its applications will run equally well on a PC or smartphone.
- Cloud Computing: Operating a data centre requires a substantial investment in hardware and is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Consequently, many companies now choose to allocate the task of storing and maintaining the security and integrity of their data to the worldwide network of servers known as “the cloud”. The primary IT training programs required to participate include a knowledge of Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Virtual Reality: Using a 3D computer-generated, interactive environment to simulate real-world situations has revolutionised practical training in industries as diverse as aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, and power generation. The first step for anyone wishing to embark on a career as a VR developer should be to gain proficiency in languages like C++, C, and Java.
{IT} Skills Development Opportunities in South Africa
Geeks4Learning is an accredited training academy offering various IT education benefits through courses to develop the skills essential for South Africa to compete in the global IT arena. We welcome your enquiries. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about IT learnerships, business partnerships in IT training, and internationally recognised IT qualifications.