In today’s competitive business landscape, finding tech talent with the right blend of expertise and practical experience is a persistent challenge for CTOs, CIOs, and business leaders. WeThinkCode_, South Africa’s leading software development academy, is taking decisive steps to bridge this gap by introducing two new electives—Data Engineering and Cloud Computing—into its 2024 curriculum, thanks to a strategic partnership with the Jobs Fund.
Launching this September and running until December 2024, these electives are designed to equip the next generation of tech professionals with specialised skills that align with the specific needs of businesses across various sectors. The Jobs Fund supported the development of these new offerings as well as enhancing the assessments within existing electives, ensuring that students are rigorously evaluated on their ability to apply these skills in real-world scenarios.
“Our new electives are designed with business needs in mind,” says Sethu Komani, Chief Commercial Officer at WeThinkCode_. “The partnership with the Jobs Fund has been instrumental in bringing these programmes to life, allowing us to provide more comprehensive and industry-aligned training. By collaborating with industry leaders like Spatial Edge and AWS partner Koedr, we’re ensuring that our graduates are not just technically proficient, but also industry-ready, with hands-on experience that goes beyond the theoretical.”
Addressing the Talent Shortage
The difficulty in locally sourcing skilled talent capable of driving innovation and maintaining competitive advantage is well-known for business decision-makers. WeThinkCode_ is tackling this issue head-on with the introduction of electives that target critical areas like data engineering and cloud computing. These skills are essential for businesses looking to leverage big data for strategic decision-making and implement scalable, cloud-based solutions.
Developed in partnership with Spatial Edge, the Data Engineering elective is designed to equip students with the skills needed to build and manage advanced data architectures, enabling organisations to make data-driven decisions. The curriculum covers:
- Understanding Data Engineering
- Data Storage and Virtualisation
- Database Management Systems
- Data Ingestion and Architecture
- Data Processing
- Data Quality and Governance
The Cloud Computing elective, designed in collaboration with Koedr, an esteemed AWS partner, empowers students to design, implement, and manage cutting-edge cloud solutions that support advanced computing strategies. The curriculum includes:
- Cloud Computing Fundamentals
- Cloud Deployment & Architecture
- Security & Observability
- Data Storage on Cloud
“As with the Data Engineering elective, the Cloud Computing elective culminates in a Capstone Project, where students demonstrate their ability to design and deploy robust cloud solutions tailored to business needs. Our emphasis on continuous learning and specialisation ensures that our graduates remain adaptable in a rapidly changing tech landscape. We are empowering the next generation of South African tech professionals to drive success in your business,” adds Herman Lintvelt, Chief Technology Officer at WeThinkCode_. “For CTOs and CIOs, this means gaining access to a talent pool that is not only equipped with the latest technical skills but also possesses the ability to stay ahead of industry trends.”
