The City of Joburg has unveiled a programme to Educate Digital Interns (COJEDI) in innovative modern age skills as part of the foundation phase of developing the Johannesburg Smart City Plan. The City has engaged the partnership of various companies and foundations to train 1 000 of its brightest young information technology (IT) minds.
The programme focuses on driving innovation and entrepreneurship through critical thinking, preparing students for employment and empowering them to significantly participate in the mainstream of the ICT sector and the growing economy.
The City has developed a broadband connectivity around its local communities and the only challenge is that there are not enough human resources to maintain the infrastructure, let alone the necessary skills to effectively sustain the connectivity to be effective.
These students are being prepared to effectively meet the demands of connectivity which underpins the development of smart cities. These young people will also have an opportunity to explore smart cities connectivity in developed countries, exposing them to innovation and an innovative mindset.
At the launch of the programme, Mayor of the City of Joburg, Parks Tau said, “This programme will go a long way in improving IT skills and expertise in Johannesburg. It provides a superb opportunity for some of our brightest minds to learn the skills they will need to be more employable in future.”
The first cohorts of students are currently undergoing a concentrated detailed four-month technical training programme. Zolani Matebese, the head of broadband, said that the City’s investment is also significant in that it has potential to transform the lives of the interns and people in the City.
Details: City of Joburg 086 056 2874; 011 375 5555.
