Unlocking the potential of future geospatial information scientists

While the country and the rest of the world is facing the harsh impact of the coronavirus pandemic, South Africa is still tackling the socio-economic challenges amongst its youth, mainly the high rate of unemployment. Most matriculants do not have any basic understanding of the working environment, let alone the work experience required by most companies. So how do we as a company create a solution that unlocks the efforts and progress made to empower and advance the young generation? Our focus is investing in people and cultivating a solid foundation for young IT individuals to start in the growing technology sector. We go through an in-depth screening and recruiting process, to identify suitable candidates for the learnership programme.

Now in its seventh run, the AfriGIS learnership programme continues to bring the chosen 10 enthusiastic learners into the IT business environment, so that we may equip them the necessary skills to obtain an NQF level five national certificate in IT systems development with Saqa credits and ultimately, employment in the ever-evolving information and technology sector. The learners are required to complete a theoretical course for the first six months at CTU Training Solutions, followed by six months of practical training, which takes place at AfriGIS. They also receive an allowance for the duration of the programme.

“It is critical that the learners are inspired, learn from market leaders, and be mentored to produce high quality work. So, they need to make sure that they grab this opportunity and do their very best,” says Christa Welthagen, AfriGIS’s human resources manager during the Learnership Induction held at the CTU Pretoria Campus, Gauteng on 2 November 2020.

CTU Training Solutions’ campus manager Estelle van der Walt reinforces this intent of helping the learners achieve their personal career goals in recording their training and development. She adds: “Each class session will build up their knowledge, insight, as well as their confidence, so it is imperative that they attend all their sessions as it will help create thought leaders in the process.”

CF Haasbroek, AfriGIS’s software development manager, ended the day by adding that: “It is not easy, but technology has taught us to adapt. Understand that everything is already online. See how quickly people and businesses have adapted because the drive was there. So, every learner needs to believe in and seize this opportunity that has been handed to them.”

AfriGIS, along with MICT Seta and CTU Training Solutions believe in these young learners. The resources are in place to help them succeed, through tenacious curiosity and dedication they can unlock the potential of the future. This is where it starts.