Landmark graduation in rural Mpumalanga empowers local community
- Wits University
Certificates of Completion in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for first cohort of candidates.
A landmark inaugural graduation ceremony took place on 24 November when 15 candidates in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, received Certificates of Completion in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
The training programme was an initiative of the SA Medical Research Council (MRC)/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (MRC/Wits-Agincourt), in collaboration with local community leadership and the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE), and delivered by the Centre for Digital Transformation and Innovation Africa (CXI-Africa).
MRC/Wits-Agincourt has since 1992 operated a Health and Socio-demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Mpumalanga. The Agincourt study site covers 31 villages and a population of 122,000 individuals, from which this inaugural cohort of graduates was drawn.
The selection process for the programme was rigorous and the recruitment criteria stringent: Candidates had to be aged between 18 and 35-years-old, have a matric certificate or equivalent (with post-matric qualifications advantageous), demonstrable basic computer skills, and advanced IT skills. Additionally, candidates were required to be unemployed South African citizens.
The initiative emerged in response to a pressing call from the local community, which grapples with high unemployment rates and a dearth of essential skills.
The six-month, in-person programme comprised three months of theoretical instruction, followed by three months of Project-Based Learning (PBL).
The programme was further enriched by the partnership with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) and South African National Parks (SanParks).
The atmosphere at the graduation ceremony was charged with anticipation, excitement, and celebration, as all candidates emerged triumphant, having completed the comprehensive programme.
Ngoni Ngwarai, Assistant Director, Systems and Operations at MRC/Wits-Agincourt, said, “As the graduates step into the realm of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, they carry with them not just certificates but the promise of contributing meaningfully to the digital landscape and, in turn, uplifting their communities. The resounding success of this endeavour sets a promising precedent for future collaborative initiatives in bridging educational gaps and fostering sustainable development.”
The success of the graduation ceremony was amplified by the support of local community leadership and the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE), represented by Vanitha Francis, Acting Chief Director for Transversal Human Resource Development.
The graduation ceremony marked not only the culmination of a transformative educational journey for the graduates but highlighted the power of collaborative efforts between educational institutions, government bodies, and community leaders in addressing societal challenges.