South Africa is facing a widening gap between rising demand for digital skills and limited employment opportunities for young people. More than 46% of citizens aged 15 to 34 are unemployed, according to Statistics South Africa, even as companies in the technology sector continue to report shortages of qualified candidates for entry-level roles.

At the same time, employers say the mismatch between academic training and workplace needs has become more visible. A 2024/2025 “Decoding ICT Demand” report by The Collective X estimates more than 118,000 unfilled digital and ICT roles nationwide, many of them suited to graduates entering the job market.

It is against this backdrop that Samsung has partnered with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to launch the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), a skills development programme aimed at preparing students for work in the digital economy. The initiative was formalised through a memorandum of agreement and unveiled at Coastlands Musgrave Hotel in Durban.

Skills push for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The programme will be hosted at the DUT Business School and will train 60 students in areas linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including Python programming, coding and artificial intelligence. Organisers say the focus is on practical skills that reflect current hiring needs in the technology sector.

Beyond technical training, the initiative also encourages entrepreneurship. Students will be supported to build AI-based projects and explore ways of turning their ideas into early-stage businesses, rather than focusing solely on traditional employment pathways.

Public-private partnership targets employability

Samsung South Africa said it will fund the programme annually over the next three years as part of its corporate social investment efforts. Lefa Makgato, CSR Manager at Samsung South Africa, said the goal is to strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and government while improving access to digital skills training.

Makgato said the programme is intended to narrow the gap between what is taught in classrooms and what employers expect. She added that students will also be trained in communication, critical thinking and problem-solving to improve workplace readiness.

Government and academic backing

The launch brought together representatives from government and academia, including Nhlakanipho Nkontwana, head of department at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and Prof Pfano Mashau, director of the DUT Business School.

Nkontwana said the initiative reflects a need to rethink education in a period shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. He said partnerships like the SIC programme can help align training with economic realities and strengthen South Africa’s participation in the global digital economy.

Prof Mashau said DUT views the collaboration as a practical step toward improving graduate employability. He added that the programme is expected to help students move beyond job seeking and into creating their own opportunities through technology-driven ventures.

The partnership positions Samsung and DUT’s Innovation Campus as part of a wider effort to address South Africa’s skills shortage and support young people entering a labour market increasingly shaped by digital transformation.