Vodacom South Africa says it has teamed up with Microsoft South
Africa to provide free access to digital training courses on the Mzansi Digital
Learning platform. Recognising the digital skills gap in a country with one of
the world's highest youth populations, this partnership aims to address the
urgent need for relevant skills in the modern job market.
The move according to
Vodacom South Africa in a statement underscores both companies' commitment to
driving digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for
digital literacy, providing access to opportunities in the digital economy, and
proficiency in key technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence
(AI).
"We are extremely grateful to embark on
this transformative partnership with our longstanding partner Microsoft South
Africa. Collaborating with a like-minded brand who share our values and
ambition is testament to our collective commitment to address unemployment and
empower individuals through innovative digital training," says Mathys Venter,
Managing Executive for Prepaid and Loyalty at Vodacom South Africa.
"Affording youth with much needed digital
literacy is just one way we strive to fight the scourge of unemployment, one
skill at a time. We believe that this partnership reinforces our purpose of
creating an inclusive digital society, leaving no one behind," added Venter.
The Mzansi Digital
Learning platform will be hosted on the new NXT LVL rewards platform, and
integrated into Vodacom's ConnectU - a zero rated platform that gives customers
access to content without mobile data charges.
The Mzansi Digital Learning
platform also removes the cost of connectivity when it comes to access to
educational content, and it also focuses on important topics to help users
understand the changing landscape of business in a digital world of Generative
AI, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity. Certification is provided upon
completion of the course, and all the programmes on the platform have been
designed to align with the most sought-after jobs in South Africa.
"We are fully committed to supporting and
enabling our youth as we collectively work towards closing the skills gap and
empowering every person to achieve more in this era of digital transformation.
It is increasingly about ensuring young people are equipped with the skills
they need for the jobs that exist today and, in the future," says Asif Valley,
National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa.
Microsoft South Africa
works closely with its local partner Afrika Tikkun to deliver training, tools,
and platforms to boost youth employability and entrepreneurship. The courses
will appeal to youth and entrepreneurs who want to upskill and equip themselves
with the skills essential for success in today's digital market and an
AI-driven world.
Commenting on the
partnership, Onyi Nwaneri, the Group CEO of Afrika Tikkun said: "Afrika Tikkun's vision is to help
young people gain skills that will enable them access and sustain access into
the digital economy. The partnership with Microsoft and Vodacom ensures that
this access is affordable, meaningful, empowering, and sustainable. Young
people are encouraged to embrace this opportunity and leverage it for their
advancement. This is a milestone and we are so grateful to be part of this
pioneering initiative."
Ultimately, both
organisations aim to reach 300,000 people with the Mzansi Digital Learning
platform over the coming months. Much of the success of this initiative will
come down to how young people embrace the digital skills courses as a tool to
give them the proficiencies they need and the entrepreneurial know-how to
become active members of the economy.
"This is the first time we are working
with Vodacom to bring an initiative of this scale to the local market and drive
a common social goal. We know that when we empower people to harness digital
technologies effectively, we help to create sustainable businesses," says Valley.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye