Skills Development


As a SAQA recognised professional body, Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) is both intimately concerned with and involved in addressing the twin issues of skills shortages and skills development, specifically in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) arena, in South Africa.

 



IITPSA engages with the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) at the University of the Witwatersrand who, in collaboration with the Media Information and Communications Technology Sector Education Training Authority (MICT SETA), conducts an annual ICT Skills Survey and produces a report on the findings of the survey. This survey report helps to inform the SETA, employers and other interested stakeholders in terms of skills development needs for their Sector Skills Plans (SSP).

IITPSA has had representation on the e-Skills Council and the e-Skills Working Group and has represented the interests of the ICT professional community on the Accounting Authority (Board) of the MICT SETA.

IITPSA is working together with other interested stakeholders to accredit university programmes with computing content at South African Universities, and has representation on a number of University ICT Advisory Boards.

The IITPSA originally introduced the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) into South Africa in 1999 and it runs as a stand-alone, non-profit organisation. Through current agreements, the IITPSA continues to promote and encourage the ICDL’s digital literacy programmes in the country.

IITPSA has established a Students Special Interest Group (SIG) at the Vaal University of Technology (Ekurhuleni Campus) where ICT students are mentored and guided, by members of the Institute and its Gauteng Chapter Committee, as potential new entrants to the ICT profession.  Developmental areas that have been tackled include life skills, career opportunities, entrepreneurship and, of course, matters ICT.

Our numerous Special Interest Groups in various ICT fields like Software Testing, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Cyber Security, Enterprise Architecture, Innovation and Entrepreneurship provide vendor neutral fora for ICT professionals and other interested participants to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the specific subject area. Industry experienced and highly skilled practitioners share their knowledge and organisational case studies with SIG attendees who are able to develop their own skill set.

Skills development is a key issue for the economy and the country as a whole and IITPSA is doing its utmost to help facilitate the adequate equipping of the ICT industry, sector and its practitioners and professionals to meet the growth and National development targets of the country.