A group of CoachLab postgraduate students from Wits University and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have developed an HR prototype solution for the South African Aids Consortium.
The online application will assist the consortium in automating leave applications from staff, as well as staff tracking. CoachLab gave the consortium the prototype software and its manual, and the consortium will implement it when it gets more server space.
The consortium says it is hoping the solution will be up and running as soon as possible. “The only challenge that we have is funding at the moment,” the consortium adds.
Rhulani Lehloka, communications manager for the Aids Consortium, in Braamfontein, says: “The CoachLab students worked with us to develop an IT application that will help us improve the management of our internal resources.”
She says this project came at the right time, as the consortium was drawing up an IT strategy. “We are looking on working on smarter and greener systems that are time saving and cost-effective,” she says.
The consortium supports a 1 000-strong affiliate network of Aids service organisations and individuals across the country. Implementing this solution will enable the consortium staff to work more efficiently and have more time to spend on real matters, such as HIV and Aids awareness and prevention, she says.
“In addition, the students also carried out an analysis on the Aids Consortium's Web site and Cyber Caf'e. They presented practical and cost-effective recommendations on possible improvements. The implementation of these recommendations will enable the Aids Consortium to make improvements to the usefulness of HIV and Aids information available,” Lehloka added.
Annliz'e Marnewick, project manager at the Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), explains the benefits to the CoachLab students: “Running real-life projects will enable them to acquire practical know-how in project implementation.” This makes them more employable when they enter the job market.
The CoachLab programme is run by the JCSE in partnership with the Innovation Hub, Barone, Budge and Dominick, Standard Bank of South Africa, Microsoft, Vodacom, UJ and Wits.CoachLab. It is a nine-month leadership development programme that aims to bridge the gap between academia and business.
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