Latest news with #digitaltalent
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
From learning to earning: how to accelerate Africa's digital economy?
Africa's youth represent a formidable advantage in the global digital economy - but only if we can build an inclusive digital talent pipeline, according to Marina Madale, MTN group executive: sustainability and shared value. Marina Madale, MTN group executive: sustainability and shared value Madale was speaking during a panel discussion entitled 'Building Africa's digital talent pipeline', on the first day of the 2025 Trialogue Business in Society Conference. The session was presented in partnership with the MTN South Africa Foundation. The development-focused conference took place at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, under the theme 'Driving impact, inspiring change'. MTN was one of six corporate sponsors that partnered with Trialogue to discuss topical issues in corporate social investment (CSI), philanthropy and development in South Africa. Madale was joined on the panel by Lisema Matsietsi (senior technical advisor – Private sector engagement in employment promotion at GIZ); Lesala Ketheng (training manager at the EBL Institute of Business and Technology); and Chuma Memela (co-founder of Gambuu and director of Genie-yus AI). They discussed how demand-led skilling is one of the factors that can address the dire unemployment rate in South Africa and many other African countries. Madale noted that public-private partnerships and collaborations will be essential to developing a pool of skilled young digital professionals. An ecosystem-based approach to digital skills Madale emphasised MTN's commitment to long-term impact through the MTN Skills Academy, which was launched in 2022. The digital platform that bridges the gap between learning and earning, and rests on four integrated pillars: career guidance (in partnership with PACE), rapid upskilling, from digital literacy to advanced 'nano degrees', work readiness, and job access, using AI to match youth with real-time opportunities. 'Our aim is to build Africa's largest job portal,' Madale explained. 'However, MTN is not a training company – our strength is connectivity. This is why we have partnered with providers like Coursera, and are in conversation with other companies – we want to create an integrated ecosystem of partners.' The platform also addresses the reality of post-matric youth who cannot access university due to cost or capacity constraints. By combining high-demand, targeted learning with job connectivity, it offers a scalable alternative to traditional education pathways. Madale acknowledged that many young South Africans and broader Africans can't join the technology revolution as they lack access, infrastructure, devices and more. This is why the company takes an ecosystem-based approach to the challenge. The ultimate aim is to develop not only digital skills but also adaptability, critical thinking, and other capabilities that will help Africa become more resilient and solve its own problems, Madale added. Aligning skills to jobs The German development agency GIZ is working with MTN and the South African government to align education and skills development with the rapidly evolving digital economy. 'We're building bridges between training providers and employers through demand-led skilling,' said the GIZ's Matsietsi. 'Instead of investing in the dark, we're co-developing curricula based on real job descriptions and tracking transitions from training to employment.' Matsietsi said the GIZ is currently testing a pipeline from TVET colleges to jobs, then looking at non-traditional training providers to assist. He cited platforms like Collective_X, a Harambee initiative that aims to place digitally skilled young people in jobs, and the Youth Employment Service, the highest-impact private sector youth employment programme in South Africa, which help to bring skilled youth into employment. Five 'top' career pathways identified by the GIZ include cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analysis, software development, and content development. In addition, the GIZ partners with public bodies such as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the National Electronic Media Institute of SA to enable the joint testing of scalable, data-driven models that will tackle youth unemployment. The agency emphasises inclusivity, applying gender and disability lenses, and attempts to reduce drop-out rates. Khetheng stressed the urgent need for programmes that offer real-world, job-ready training, not just certificates. 'The gap isn't only skills – it's experience, access to mentorship, and infrastructure,' he noted. 'Many learners don't have reliable laptops, internet access, or even digital literacy. You can't work remotely on a laptop operating Windows 7, for example.' He stressed the importance of human-centred approaches: practical exposure, peer mentorship, and psychological support to help learners thrive in difficult socioeconomic environments. AI ushers in opportunities Despite anxiety around artificial intelligence, the panellists were confident that AI's transformative potential should be harnessed, not resisted. 'AI isn't going to destroy jobs – it's going to transform them,' asserted Memela, himself a graduate of the EBL Institute of Business and Technology, and one of its ''champions' who is part of the mentorship pipeline. He currently teaches entrepreneurs to become 'super-employees' – multi-skilled generalists who can combine digital skills with critical thinking. 'We shouldn't be debating whether 19-year-olds should use AI when countries like China and the United States are teaching it in primary school,' he added, saying educational institutions need to adapt to meet the job needs of the future. It is also important to mentor young people and bring them into the system. 'I am a beneficiary of opportunity – I have to pay it forward,' Memela concluded.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Huawei ICT Competition Global Final 2024-2025 concludes with outstanding performance from Egyptian teams
Cairo, Egypt: Demonstrating the remarkable rise of digital talent in Egypt, teams of ICT students from leading Egyptian universities delivered outstanding performances at the Huawei ICT Competition Global Final 2024–2025. Now in its 9th edition, the competition attracted more than 210,000 students from over 80 countries and regions, with 179 teams from 48 countries advancing to the Global Final. Amid this fierce global competition, Egyptian teams once again emerged among the top performers across the competition's core tracks: Network, Cloud, Computing, and Innovation, highlighting the country's growing capabilities in digital skills, and technological innovation. Among this year's most remarkable achievements was a collaborative team comprising Abdelrahman Abdel Nasser and Abdelrahman Adel Bahrawy from Ain Shams University, and Malak Ibrahim from the Egyptian Russian University, proudly secured First Prize in the Computing Track. In the Innovation Track, under the mentorship of Dr. Aya El Zoghby- New Mansoura University, a talented team from New Mansoura University Abdelrahman Abdel Halim, Basel Abdel Maksoud, and El Sayed Ahmed earned Second Prize for their groundbreaking project, 'Evana', an AI-powered robotic surgical arm assistant that harnesses the capabilities of Huawei Cloud. In the Cloud Track, a team mentored by Dr. Heba Sayed Ahmed, the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI), Dr. Mohamed ElMougy- Mansoura University; Dr. Samah Eissa- Ain Shams University along with the team members Abrar Mohamed from Benha University, Ahmed Khaled from Cairo University, and Saja Said from the Canadian International College achieved Second Prize for their outstanding performance. In the Network Track, a team mentored by Dr. Ahmed Osman from Suez University, and including Sadek Hany from Delta Technological University, Moahmed Attallah from Mansoura College Academy, and Mohamed Ammar from Zagazig University, secured Third Prize, showcasing strong teamwork and technical expertise. The exceptional results achieved by the Egyptian teams are a powerful testament to Huawei's commitment to nurturing future generations of ICT leaders and underscores the wide-ranging ICT expertise fostered across Egyptian institutions. In addition, Dr. Tamer Mustafa of the Egyptian Russian University was honored with the Grand Prize at Huawei ICT Academy Global Most Valuable Instructors, an esteemed honor celebrating his exceptional dedication to developing Egypt's ICT talent and empowering the next generation of technology leaders. In his opening speech, Ritchie Peng, Director of the ICT Strategy & Business Development Department at Huawei, emphasized the broader mission behind the competition, 'At Huawei, we are committed to cultivating ICT talent through continuous innovation in our competition design. The Practice Competition aligns with our vision for Intelligent World 2030, inspiring students to master cloud computing, big data, and AI to drive social progress. Simultaneously, the Innovation Competition champions green development and digital inclusion, motivating students to address real-world challenges across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education through ICT.' Benjamin Hou, CEO of Huawei Egypt, said, "As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, the demand for skilled professionals in areas like AI, big data, and Cloud is growing, yet the shortage of talent remains a pressing global challenge. The exceptional performance of Egyptian students at this year's Huawei ICT Competition Global Final demonstrates their readiness to lead in this rapidly evolving landscape.' He added, 'Through initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Competition, Huawei is equipping students with the critical skills needed to thrive in an intelligent, digital future. We are proud to partner with Egypt's top universities and invest in the country's vibrant youth, helping to cultivate the next generation of tech leaders and reinforce Egypt's role as an emerging hub for innovation and digital excellence." Egypt was part of a broader Northern African success story at the Global Final. Teams from Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt won accolades across the competition's core tracks. Their collective success reflects the region's growing focus on digital empowerment and inclusive development. It is worth noting that over the past decade, the Huawei ICT Competition has grown into a premier global platform for ICT knowledge and innovation. Since 2015, it has engaged over 960,000 students from 2,000 institutions in more than 100 countries. Recognized by UNESCO's Global Skills Academy as a flagship initiative, the competition continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of global ICT leaders. For more details about the Huawei ICT Competition, visit us at
Jordan Times
24-05-2025
- Jordan Times
Jordanian team wins top prize in Huawei ICT Competition finals
A team of Jordanian students wins first place in the networking category at the 2024–2025 Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals, held in China (Petra photo) AMMAN — A team of Jordanian students won first place in the networking category at the 2024–2025 Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals, held in China. The winning team comprised Mohammad Abu Saa, Lama Hasweh, and Lubna Issa, represented Al Balqa Applied University and was supervised by Dean of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence Omar Zoubi, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Huawei said this year's competition brought together 40 teams from 40 countries, showcasing top international talent in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). Now in its ninth year, the Huawei ICT Competition has become a premier international platform for identifying and nurturing digital talent. The 2024–2025 edition saw a record number of participants from the Middle East and Central Asia, with more than 31,000 students from 640 universities and colleges, underscoring the event's growing significance in the region's tech education landscape, Petra reported.
