ICT | UPSKILLING | TRAINING 

The Innovation Village in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU) have launched a new education program dubbed the “IEEE Continued Program” aimed at equipping tech-engineering professionals in Uganda with new skills in emerging technologies. 

Speaking at the programme launch on Friday (July 29), Arthur Mukembo the FutureLab Studios Lead at the Innovation Village expressed excitement about the partnership saying it is an opportunity for them to convene strategic stakeholders within the ecosystem.

“This will enhance collaboration and give entrepreneurs the opportunity to acquire new skills which are critical in the changing times of emerging technology. We will create an interactive environment where our entrepreneurs and ICT practitioners can interact and share knowledge that will help advance the tech landscape in Uganda” Mukembo emphasized,” he said.

Mukembo added that the wave of the fourth industrial revolution has placed humans in a defining moment where the career decisions and choices we make today will determine our place in the job market in the future.  

He cited a report by the World Economic Forum on the: Future of Jobs, 2020 which indicates that the ongoing shifts in the division of labor between humans, algorithms and automated AI are likely to displace 85 million jobs worldwide in the next 5 years while creating 97 million new roles adaptable to technology.

The report further indicates that by 2025, about 6% of an organization workforce is likely to be fully displaced and 15% of a company’s workforce is at risk of facing disruption. 50% of employees will need re-skilling and those retaining their current roles will need to update their skill sets to adapt to the changing labor market.

Lucy Muchira, a representative from IEEE said, “In 2019, we asked ourselves how we can make the current developments in ICT become applicable to the technology and engineering professionals. That is how we started the IEEE Continued Education Program, with the purpose to reach out to as many ICT and engineering practitioners as possible around the world to access courses that will enable them to acquire new skills based on their underlying knowledge so that they can advance their knowledge in new edge technologies.

“IEEE offers programs in innovative STEM and recognition programs for all participants and facilitates the accreditation of engineering programs at all levels and offers ongoing continuing professional education for all practitioners. 

This program is a pilot program and free to all participants and participating companies. Since its self-studying in nature, the courses are available online and learners can access it via IEEE Learning Network,” she added.

Patrick Kadama a board member at the ICT Association Uganda urged the tech practitioners and ICT-driven companies to enrol on the program because it is a stepping stone for advancing their careers to stay relevant in the job market and create a meaningful impact within the country’s technology industry.