South Africa has a serious skills shortage and needs to prepare itself for more equitable prosperity and global competitiveness in the Information Age. The rate of development, reducing costs and increasing mobility of communication devices provides both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. An indication of the speed of development is evident with the current release of a computer tablet in India for the equivalent of R450.
Our country’s future is inextricably tied to how this technology is applied across society, how government makes best use of this technology and how education responds to the challenges the technology provides. What is quite certain is that we need to develop a sound research and evaluation base to inform policy, measure impact and provide a means for collaborative engagement in preparing South Africa to best harness these technologies.
In response to these challenges and as a result of recommendations from the Presidential International Advisory Council (PIAC) on Information Society and Development (ISAD), the Department of Communications has established the e-Skills Institute (e-SI) as a catalytic collaborator and developer of e-Skills across Business, Government, Education and Civil Society. An e-Skills Summit held in July 2010 developed a National e-Skills Plan of Action (NESPA : see http://www.doc.gov.au) which supports the establishment of the Research Network for e-Skills (ResNeS) as means of coordinating all relevant discipline and stakeholder research and evaluation of these new technologies in addressing the goals of Human Resource Development Council and the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF 2009-2014).
In advancing this agenda, the e-SI recognizes the key role that thought leaders from Business, Education, Government and Civil Society can bring to the decision table to ensure that the priorities for ResNeS are well grounded in the real needs of stakeholders. There is a real need to ensure that efforts grasp innovation and growth opportunities across Business, Education, Government and Civil Society including Labour.
The e-SI invites delegates to share with us views by being a part of the discussion at the ResNeS Colloquium 2011 .
Dr. Harold Wesso
Deputy Director-General | Department of Communications
Acting Chief Executive Officer | e-Skills Institute
QUICK CONTACT: research@resnes.co.za
