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WeThinkCode is looking for software programming mentors

WeThinkCode has issued a call to those in the South African tech industry and is looking for experienced software practitioners to mentor its second year students, the aim of which is to help build the country’s next generation of software programmers.

The training academy explains that these industry mentors will form part of the software programming academy’s new Volunteer Programme, which is scheduled to begin next month as part of its revised curriculum.

The academy adds that mentorship is a core component of the new curriculum and is partly responsible for its 92 percent student retention among the 2020 cohort of learners.

“WTC_ uses a peer-to-peer training methodology that reinforces a structured technical training path. Mentorship support was introduced for first year students by allocating high performing second year students as tech mentors. First years were all put in groups of six and each group was allocated a mentor,” says Nyari Samushonga, CEO of WeThinkCode.

“We’re now inviting tech industry experts to mentor our second-year students. The goal is to prepare our students for the transition from the academy to the workplace.  In this way, mentors can add enormous value,” adds Samushonga.

Outlining what the mentors would be undertaking, WeThinkCode notes that they should ideally be experienced software developers or engineers and will be expected to guide a group of between four to six students over a six-month period starting in September.

This commitment will also involve a minimum of one hour every two weeks (12 hours total commitment) to align with the curriculum project iterations.

Along with group mentorship, WeThinkCode is also looking for volunteers to assist all students in other areas of its programme.

“In our Interview Readiness Programme, we need members of the tech community to take part in a series of simulated technical interviews. These interviews will help students acquire improved communication and self-reflection skills, enabling them to present themselves with confidence in an actual interview,” highlights Gina Stoltz, head of Community at WeThinkCode.

“For our planned WomenThinkCode= Meetups, volunteers can opt in to host monthly meetups specifically for women students in our programme.  Finally, we are looking for members of the tech community to participate in our community events calendar by hosting one-hour talks to inspire students and alumni by sharing their journeys in the industry and the work in which they are involved,” Stoltz adds.

It is clear that the academy is on a serious drive to collaborate with established IT talent in the country, so those interested should definitely make contact with the institution as soon as possible.

You can find out more about, as well as sign up for, the Volunteer Programme, here.

[Image – Photo by Arnold Francisca on Unsplash]

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