T-Systems South Africa will be introducing Cyber Security programs to create a specialized Cyber Security Academy incorporated into the organisation’s existing ICT Academy accessible to the youth from local community. The new Academy will include a variety of Internationally recognized Cyber Security qualifications and more will be added in the coming months, helping participants build cyber security awareness skills and upskill to address a widening global cyber security workforce shortage in the market.
“Cybersecurity has become a top C-level priority across the globe with skills in high demand. With the addition of this focus to our ICT Academy, we are empowering participants with new skills that will make them even more employable,” explains Dineo Molefe, Managing Director at T-Systems South Africa.
“Building on our relationship with various industry leaders, we are now collaborating with them to focus on cybersecurity skills development and awareness. We see the benefits in their programs first-hand as many of the students that graduate from the ICT Academy are employed at T-Systems South Africa and we see the value in having our technicians hold these certifications. This means that the participants have excellent potential for employment with us and other ICT firms at the end of their learning period,” adds Molefe.
The ICT Academy already offers learners the opportunity to study toward an NQF4 qualification in their first year, which includes technical support, CompTIA and ICDL. The second year offers an NQF5 qualification to earn their national certification in either Telecommunications Network Operations, Systems Support or Systems Development.
Learners who are already part of the ICT Academy will now be able to gain additional skills in infrastructure security as well as the various other cyber security skills. New learners will also be able to join the new cyber security program at a later stage.
Marcus Karuppan, T-Systems ICT Academy Manager concludes that “empowered with an international certification from our ICT Academy, learners who participates in the Academy’s programmes are able to apply for both local and global jobs abroad. As all of our learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds, the addition of new Cyber Security programs is an incredible opportunity for them to gain a valuable and sort after qualification and experience. Our goal is to create a pool of employable graduates with skills in the security sector to help address a noticeable skills gap in South Africa”