Johannesburg, 15 Jul 2002
Unisys Africa has expanded its IT skills-based youth development programme with an additional intake of 12 young people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds into the company, bringing the current total number of students to 27. The initial programme is planned to run for five years, with a new intake of candidates each year, all of whom spend two years with Unisys.
Depending on its success and its demonstrated value-add, Unisys plans to extend the programme.
"The programme was started last year in response to an evaluation of the IT skills availability figures in SA," says Dr Karen Toombs, human resources business partner at Unisys Africa. Run from Unisys`s offices, the programme assigns candidates to live Unisys projects for a two-year period, under a mentorship programme coupled with intensive in-house training provided by the Unisys University.
"For this period, the candidates are treated like full-time Unisys employees," Dr Toombs says. "They also have access to all Unisys facilities, benefit from the same Unisys University training and development programmes and participate fully in the life of the organisation.
To qualify for selection, a candidate must come from a previously disadvantaged background, be unemployed, have completed grade 12 at school and preferably have some IT-related training.
"We do not focus on university graduates as we feel the programme should be aimed at those whose entry into the market is hindered only by their backgrounds," Dr Toombs says. "Our aim is to allow these young people the opportunity to gain the necessary qualifications and hands-on experience in major IT implementations, two key attributes required to gain entry-level status in the IT industry," she says.
The candidates are provided with real on-the-job experience, with many having worked on major projects, continues Dr Toombs. Currently, the candidates are deployed in the consulting, global networking, project management, bid management, and sales divisions.
"The skills they have acquired include not only the traditional IT skills, and higher-level skills such as entry-level project management, sales and consulting, but also advanced business skills such as business case report writing, communication, presentation and other life skills which they would not obtain in a purely theoretical environment. A number of candidates are also working towards various certifications.
"The strategy is underpinned by our strategic business case," continues Dr Toombs. "We have identified the need for an increased skills pool in this country, and then integrated that into our future business needs and our social responsibility programme," she says. "By investing so heavily in a youth development programme, we are in fact investing in our own future and the country as a whole."
At the end of the two-year period, Unisys will endeavour to take on the graduates full-time depending on project availability, failing which placement assistance will be provided.
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