13 March 2024
Vodacom South Africa and Microsoft South Africa have joined forces to provide free access to digital training courses on the Mzansi Digital Learning platform in an attempt to reduce the 44% youth unemployment rate among South Africans.
The partnership aims to address the urgent need for relevant skills in the modern job market. It underscores both companies’ commitment to drive digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for digital literacy, providing access to opportunities in the digital economy, and proficiency in key technological advancements such as AI.
“We are extremely grateful to embark on this transformative partnership with our longstanding partner Microsoft South Africa. Collaborating with a like-minded brand who share our values and ambition is testament to our collective commitment to address unemployment and empower individuals through innovative digital training,” said Mathys Venter, managing executive for prepaid and loyalty, Vodacom South Africa. “Affording youth with much needed digital literacy is just one way we strive to fight the scourge of unemployment, one skill at a time. We believe that this partnership reinforces our purpose of creating an inclusive digital society, leaving no one behind.”
“The Mzansi Digital Learning platform will be hosted on the new NXT LVL rewards platform, and integrated into Vodacom’s ConnectU – a zero rated platform that gives customers access to content without mobile data charges,” said Asif Valley, national technology officer, Microsoft South Africa. “The Mzansi Digital Learning platform also removes the cost of connectivity when it comes to access to educational content, and it also focuses on important topics to help users understand the changing landscape of business in a digital world of Generative AI, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity. Certification is provided upon completion of the course, and all the programmes on the platform have been designed to align with the most sought-after jobs in South Africa. We are fully committed to supporting and enabling our youth as we collectively work towards closing the skills gap and empowering every person to achieve more in this era of digital transformation. It is increasingly about ensuring young people are equipped with the skills they need for the jobs that exist today and, in the future.”
