Preparing Students for the Future World of Work
WORKSHOP: The workshop aimed to prepare students for the future world of work.
Wednesday, 06 March 2024
The Cooperative Education Unit of the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning recently hosted an exciting workshop to prepare students for the future world of work.
The workshop was presented in collaboration with the Cape Town Science Centre and covered a range of compelling topics, including Artificial Intelligence, Coding and Robotics.
Project Lead David Haarhoff said: “Students are the centre of our core business and their development in respect of skills is critical. We have a huge responsibility to ensure that they meet industry expectations.”
Prof Lalini Reddy, Director of the Centre for Community Engagement and Work-Integrated Learning, welcomed the students and guests and said the event was the first of a series of events being planned for the year.
“The World Economic Forum 2023 report says technology adoption will remain the key driver for business transformation as we go forward in the next five years. And many of you, whether you're in the second year or third year, you are going to be looking for jobs in the next five years. You need to know the trends out there. You need to be kept active and aware.”
Students were given demonstrations on AI and robotics. The list of speakers and presenters included the Cape Town Science Centre’s Theresa Ely-Felin Ashric Don, Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Coding and Robotics, Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Jonathan Freese: Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Technology, WCED, Fatima Jakoet: Airline Pilot, Consultant, Entrepreneur, 4IR skills specialist, Sakhikamva Foundation, Wesley Pillay, Business Facilitator / Project Manager – Skills & Enterprise Development, ORT SA, Melissa Slaymaker, Africa Regional Director: Women in Tech and Bongumusa Ngema Postgraduate Diploma student: Business Administration.
Haarhoff said there had been huge interest in respect of topics aligned to AI, coding and robotics.
“In my engagement with students after the event, there was a hunger from students to embark on more offerings such as this. My longstanding relationship with the Cape Town Science Centre is worth noting. Collaborating with them in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department, Women in Tech, Sakhikamva Foundation and ORT SA was rewarding. It afforded students to engage with experts directly and this warms my heart.”
Dr Lizel Hudson, Work-Integrated Learning Coordinator in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, thanked the guests and the students for contributing to the successful event.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za
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