- With automation threatening jobs worldwide, MICT SETA and UiPath have launched a qualifcation aimed at harnessing disruptive technology.
- The qualification will go a long way to addressing the skills shortage as regards robotic process automation.
- There is also hope this qualification will improve the automation ecosystem in South Africa.
A newly developed qualification in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, will potentially help to create new jobs in software development. This can lead to an expansion of the automation ecosystem in South Africa.
The qualification was developed by enterprise automation software company, UiPath together with the Media Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA).
“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,” UiPath’s president for EMEA, Mark Gibbs said in a press statement.
“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” adds Gibbs.
A survey conducted by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals of South Africa[PDF] in 2022, found that there is a significant shortage of skills in the areas of robotic process automation, cybersecurity, analytics, AI, blockchain and DevOps.
The introduction of the RPA qualification will help young professionals deal with disruptive technologies more effectively while also harnessing those technologies to create new products and services.
Certified RPA Developers will be able to create RPA solutions that emulate human actions during the project development stage using platform knowledge and data analysis capabilities. They will also be able to execute test procedures and modify and improve existing RPA solutions with the skills required to build reusable components.
“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,” chief executive officer at MICT SETA, Matome Madibana said in a statement.
“It is important for all stakeholders to come together and ensure South Africa will have people with the skills to innovate and exploit Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Perhaps, most importantly, it will provide those whose jobs face redundancy to be reskilled,” the CEO adds.
