UiPath, a leading enterprise automation software company, has collaborated with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) in South Africa to develop the first national qualification in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
The initiative aims to provide the workforce of the future with valuable tech skills and will potentially have a positive impact on youth unemployment by creating new jobs in software development, setting up for further growth the expanding automation ecosystem in South Africa.
“South Africa has seen the emergence of a strong automation ecosystem, which includes forward-thinking enterprises that have made intelligent automation a priority, automation services providers and universities who teach their students automation skills to prepare them for the workplace of the future,” said Mark Gibbs, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa at UiPath.
“Automation adoption has led to the creation of new roles; however, the need for qualified automation talent is acute. This qualification is set to provide companies with the next generation of talented RPA Developers and help narrow the current skills gap in the country,” he added.
Recent research points to skills shortages being among the most significant business risks facing South African organisations. According to the 2022 JCSE – IITPSA Skills Survey, RPA skills are among those recording ‘significant shortages’, alongside information security, Big Data design and analytics and Artificial Intelligence, for which demand exceeds supply by a big margin.
For this reason, the introduction of the national qualification in RPA is well positioned to help address the current shortage of RPA skills in South Africa. It will empower workers with the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the field of automation, which is becoming ubiquitous across industries.
Considering how unemployment among South Africa’s youth is a pressing issue, the development of a standardised qualification in RPA will provide a clear and defined career pathway for individuals interested in this field, ultimately delivering a positive contribution to the local economy.
According to MICT SETA, the National Qualification in RPA will prepare young professionals and the current workforce to deal with the disruptive effects of new technologies. The qualification will also enable young professionals to innovate and create new products and services across industries.
“We are hopeful that by means of this qualification, we will bridge the current shortage of skilled labour within the ICT and digital industries and ultimately, increase the youth employment rate in South Africa,” said Matome Madibana, CEO, MICT SETA.
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