In April 2022, Ocule IT hosted the graduation ceremony of the Cohort 2 Electronics Learnership, in partnership with Samsung. The event was also livestreamed via YouTube. The aim of the ceremony was to recognise the talented students that are now certified as qualified Electronics Technicians, ready to take their place at the forefront of South Africa’s ICT sector.

During the year 2021/22 Ocule IT trained 21 learners who came from different municipalities within KZN, to receive an NQF Level 4 Electronics qualification. The graduates include 14 females, which is an encouraging sign of progress as Ocule IT and Samsung continue to focus on addressing gender imbalance in the ICT sector.

Wandile Thato Ndlovu, a graduating student expressed her deepest gratitude for the programme, which “made me realise how much I enjoy learning and challenging myself”. She says she “gained tremendously in terms of knowledge, skills, fault finding and troubleshooting and is in the process of starting her own repair business because there are few women in the industry.”

Simphiwe Gama, a Cohort 1 graduate has already opened his own repair business and hopes “this partnership continues for others to gain the same knowledge that I did. It is a good start for those who are interested in starting their own companies as well as those who wants to pursue electronics as a career. “

The Electronics Learnership programme is a fully funded bursary initiative that provides for tuition, equipment and stipends. In essence, it is a comprehensive integrated skills development investment programme that prioritises the delivery of an integrated holistic package of personal, technical, entrepreneurial and business skills, aligned to meet the needs of the country’s economic development strategies.

“It is vital that we equip deserving youth with expertise and knowledge that appeals to potential employers and even inspires an entrepreneurial spirit. Ocule IT shares our long-term vision of equipping the youth to seize the opportunities that lie in a sector that is creating transformative technology that can empower more people in innovative new ways, “said Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

The Electronics Technician programme aims to develop sought-after artisan skills in the fields of electronics. These artisans are trained, guided and mentored by accredited specialist providers as part of their workplace training. Trade testing and ultimately certification form an integral part of the programme. At the end of theoretical and workplace training, learners would have mastered the processes around design, manufacturing and repairing of electronic equipment and products.

“For students, this programme offers unsurpassed access both in workplace learning and in business, as it assists learners to have the ability to sustain themselves even if they were not employed. Ocule, IT in partnership with Samsung is pleased to offer an innovative and exciting programme of learning that emphasises an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge and the solution of real-life problems. We therefore thank Samsung, DTIC and all other stakeholders including employers and learners who participated in this programme, “said Sanele Gcumisa, Ocule IT: Managing Member.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 08 March 2022 – On Saturday, 26 February Samsung held an innovation-packed student-interaction day for its Empowering Tomorrow Bursary Recipients at Design Quarter in Johannesburg. The 54 students, who have already commenced with their weekday classes, were invited to participate in a day designed for them to interact with Samsung’s team and enjoy an insider’s view into the technology that is inspiring a new generation of pioneers. Samsung’s multi-million-rand bursary program continues to support many learners across the country on their ongoing quest to create qualified professionals – who can become a valued part of the South African economy.

“It was immensely rewarding to welcome and interact with these talented students. As very-deserving recipients of our Empowering Tomorrow Bursary Program, we wanted to ensure they felt welcomed into the Samsung family. Samsung’s product leads, from mobile to home appliances shared valuable insights into our approach to product design, local research and development as well as our commitment to sustainable solutions for a brighter future. Speaking to the students, we in turn received illuminating insights into their thinking and their unique perspectives on how technology can enhance the lives of people in their own communities, “said Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

Samsung works with CareerWise, the bursary management company that sources, screens and shortlists financially-deserving students from universities within South Africa, who are academically strong. This year Samsung allocated almost R8 Million to the initiative, building on its ongoing multi-million-rand yearly investment since 2018.  Once the bursary students are selected, Samsung commits to providing financial aid right through to completion at Honours level. It’s for this reason that the company aims to build an enduring relationship with students, the most-talented of which will be in strong contention to join the Samsung South Africa team themselves.

Dimakatso Moagi, a law student at North-West University, remarking on the Empowering Tomorrow Bursary, says, “I feel very happy and grateful for the opportunity offered by Samsung. This came at a time where I needed it the most. I now have the reassurance that hard work really does pay off.”

Kashveer Sewjalal, who is completing a BCom in Information Management at the University of Johannesburg expressed his sense of gratitude and renewed purpose, “I feel truly blessed to have Samsung on my journey towards achieving my dreams, and feel honoured to be recognised as a young achiever. The support they provide motivates me to do the very best I can in every aspect of my life.”

South Africa’s youth face a multitude of socio-economic challenges such as; high unemployment rates, poverty, and a lack of access to basic services, to name a few. Many of the students on the Samsung Empowering Tomorrow Bursary Program come from homes where both parents are unemployed and from families where they are the first or the only individual to have the opportunity to attend University. There are many who qualify who do not have the financial means to see their studies to the end. This is where Samsung has stepped in and has made the commitment to see them through to the end of their tertiary journey.

“It’s through this level of support that our country’s youth can be a major driver of immense transformational change in the South African economy, “concluded Shivanda.