Vodacom Digital Skills Hub: 1 Million-Person Upskilling Program

Nov 21, 2024

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The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is aimed at equipping individuals with core digital skills essential for success in the modern workforce.

Developed in collaboration with accredited organisations and subject matter experts, our comprehensive courses are meticulously tailored to address the dynamic demands of today’s digital economy.

Developed in conjunction with AWS, Microsoft, Skillsoft and other collaborating organizations Vodacom aims to bridge the digital skills gap across eight African countries and upskill 1 million young people by 2027.

The Vodacom Group Digital Skills Hub is available in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt (Talimy), the Democratic Republic of Congo (VodaEduc), and Kenya (Industry Digital Talent Program) to empower the next generation of digital innovators, enabling Africa’s digital society and leveraging existing e-learning platforms in the respective markets.

The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub provides access to self-paced, digital skills training for those aged between 18 and 35. This is in addition to Vodacom Group’s existing free, e-learning platforms across its markets.

E-learning and digital classrooms have made it possible for students in remote or underserved areas to access quality education with platforms such as Talimy in Egypt, e-Fahamu in Tanzania, VodaEduc in the Democratic of Congo (DRC), Faz Crescer in Mozambique and an e-learning platform in South Africa, providing a wealth of online resources, which cater to different learning needs.

The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is designed to empower the next generation, to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and entails fun and engaging practical digital skills training for young people on the continent.

AWS Educate is one of the first programs to be offered through the Digital Skills Hub and an additional program to Vodacom’s various existing online learning platforms. AWS Educate offers beginners an extensive library of self-paced online training that covers a range of topics from cloud fundamentals to artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Vodacom’s 14 Core Digital Skills for the Future

Blockchain: The technology behind cryptocurrencies, blockchain has applications in secure data management, supply chain tracking, and smart contracts.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI involves creating intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA involves automating repetitive business processes using software robots, increasing efficiency and reducing errors.
Digital Media: Encompasses the creation, management, and distribution of digital content, including images, videos, audio, and text.
Cybersecurity: Protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, theft, damage, or disruption.
Machine Learning: A subset of AI, machine learning involves creating algorithms that allow systems to learn from data and improve their performance on a specific task without being explicitly programmed.
Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the internet (‘the cloud’).
Software Engineering: The application of engineering principles to the design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of software.
Fintech: The use of technology to improve and automate financial services.
Internet of Things (IoT): The network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity, enabling these objects to collect and exchange data.
UI/UX Design: UI (User Interface) design focuses on the visual elements that users interact with, while UX (User Experience) design focuses on the overall experience a user has when interacting with a product or service.
Big Data Analytics: The process of examining large and varied data sets to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, customer preferences, and other useful business information.
Agile: A project management approach that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Digital Services (Lifestyle Content): The creation and delivery of digital content and services that enhance people’s lifestyles, such as entertainment, health, and wellness apps.