South Cape TVET College teams up with WeThinkCode to initiate a rural software engineering program
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South Africa's tech landscape is set to expand with the launch of the WeThinkCode_ rural partnership model. This scalable public-private initiative aims to provide software engineering education to rural youth, bridging the digital divide and bolstering the country's tech talent pool.
The collaboration between WeThinkCode_ and South Cape TVET College in Riversdale marks a significant step towards delivering industry-aligned, tuition-free training to rural students. The 18-month program offers an NQF Level 6 Occupational Certificate in Software Engineering, equipping students with the skills needed for meaningful employment or further study.
Key features of this model include:
- Public-private collaboration: WeThinkCode_ partners with institutions like South Cape TVET College, and funders such as the DG Murray Trust and Caterpillar Foundation, ensuring financial coverage and support for students.
- Focus on rural inclusion: The program includes on-campus accommodation to support students from remote areas, making education accessible despite geographic and socioeconomic barriers.
- Curriculum: The curriculum covers foundational software development and advanced specializations in areas like mobile development, cloud computing, and AI, aligning training with current industry needs.
- No tuition fees, peer-oriented learning: As with WeThinkCode_’s original model, the training is tuition-free and highly practical, relying on peer learning rather than traditional lecturing, which enables low-cost, high-quality tech education.
- Scalability and impact: Designed as a replicable model, it aims to bridge South Africa’s digital divide by proving that rural youth can thrive in tech when given appropriate support, creating pathways to employment or further study.
This initiative represents a national first in providing formal NQF-certified software engineering education in rural South Africa, contributing to addressing the critical shortage of tech skills across the country while empowering communities historically left behind by digital transformation efforts.
Ruvimbo Gwatirisa, Director of Public Partnerships at WeThinkCode_, stated that this partnership is more than just a standalone program; it is a scalable blueprint for reaching youth in regions where tech education opportunities are scarce. The collaboration presents a high-impact investment opportunity for funders, as it offers a scalable public-private model for the government.
The partnership between WeThinkCode_ and South Cape TVET College is seen as a transformative step in elevating the college's curriculum to meet industry demands. David Modiba, Deputy Director of DHET TVET, emphasizes the partnership's role in aligning South Cape TVET College's curriculum with industry needs. The refinement of the approach at South Cape TVET College lays the groundwork for future collaborations that will bring software engineering training to more communities across South Africa.
In summary, WeThinkCode_’s rural partnership is a scalable, inclusive, public-private effort delivering industry-relevant software engineering education to rural youth, removing financial, geographic, and educational barriers to broaden South Africa’s tech talent pipeline. The initiative offers a scalable public-private model for the government, and a high-impact investment opportunity for funders, as it aims to bridge South Africa’s digital divide and empower rural communities through tech education.
[1] WeThinkCode_. (n.d.). [WeThinkCode_ Rural Partnership]. Retrieved from https://wethinkcode.co.za/rural-partnership/ [2] WeThinkCode_. (2021). [WeThinkCode_ partners with South Cape TVET College to bring software engineering education to underserved communities]. Retrieved from https://wethinkcode.co.za/news/wethinkcode-partners-with-south-cape-tvet-college-to-bring-software-engineering-education-to-underserved-communities/ [3] WeThinkCode_. (n.d.). [WeThinkCode_'s Model]. Retrieved from https://wethinkcode.co.za/model/
- The rural partnership model by WeThinkCode_ is set to expand South Africa's tech landscape by offering education in areas like cloud computing and mobile development,as part of an online education platform that aligns with current industry needs.
- The collaboration between WeThinkCode_ and educational institutions like South Cape TVET College is expected to scale technology education in rural areas, bridging the digital divide and empowering communities through self-development and education-and-self-development.
- The software engineering education provided by WeThinkCode_ is not only tuition-free but also relies on peer learning, making high-quality tech education accessible to students regardless of geographic and socioeconomic barriers.
- This initiative, which offers NQF Level 6 Occupational Certificates, serves as a high-impact investment opportunity for funders, providing a scalable public-private model for the government to replicate and implement in other communities across South Africa.
