On 15 August 2024, 25 final-year ICT students from SPU were awarded fellowships at the Digital Fellowship Programme Launch and Student Welcome Ceremony.
Dr Silas Verkijika, Acting Director of the Centre for Applied Data Science, highlighted the collaboration as the beginning of great opportunities for students – not just as an academic endeavour, but as a launchpad for their future leadership roles in the ICT industry.
This innovative initiative will offer SPU students a unique chance to enhance their skills in web development, design, and maintenance. As part of the fellowship, students will engage in hands-on projects, including the development and maintenance of educational websites for local schools, thereby directly benefiting the Northern Cape community.
The CEO of Simsciex Technologies, Ms Nomso Kana, commended the fellows for their commitment and encouraged them to view this fellowship as a privilege. She emphasised that the programme presented a rare opportunity to secure employment even before graduation, a benefit not afforded to many.
Keynote speaker Mr Molehe Wesi, CEO of Zadna, underscored the significance of the programme and its role in bridging the digital divide, ensuring that lower-level schools have the same access to digital opportunities as middle and private schools.
The Digital Fellowship Programme, a collaborative initiative between Simsciex Technologies and SPU’s Department of Computer Science and Information Technology within the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, exemplifies SPU’s dedication to equipping students with the lifelong skills needed to excel in the rapidly evolving ICT field. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in SPU’s commitment to shaping well-rounded graduates who are poised to make meaningful contributions to the ICT industry and the broader community.
