Technology can open a door.
But knowing how to walk through it requires more than access to a device. It requires skills, confidence, practical experience and the belief that there is a place for you in the digital economy.
That is the opportunity being created through the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme at Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
Earlier this year, NMU officially entered into a strategic partnership with the SIC programme. Its ultimate objective is clear: help bridge the skills gap, reduce unemployment and empower young people from previously disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Cape with practical technology expertise.
Now, the experiences of facilitators and students are offering a closer look at what that opportunity means in practice.
And the results are beginning to show.
From Learning to Doing
For Siseko Dano, one of NMU’s SIC facilitators, the role is about far more than delivering technical lessons.
He is responsible for technical training, mentoring students and monitoring their progress. Most importantly, he wants students to feel comfortable enough to ask questions, experiment and learn from the process.
“My focus has been to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and learning through experimentation,” Dano explained.
That environment appears to be making a difference.
According to Dano, students have shown genuine enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the programme. Attendance has generally been very good, while many participants have gone beyond the minimum requirements by completing additional practice and collaborating with their peers.
Perhaps most importantly, he has watched confidence grow.
Students who initially lacked confidence are becoming increasingly independent and capable as the programme progresses.
For a programme focused on preparing young people for the technology industry, that development matters.
Skills That Go Beyond the Classroom
NMU facilitator Jason Macnamara sees another challenge that the SIC programme is helping to address.
Many young people use technology every day. Yet daily technology use does not automatically provide access to structured, practical training in areas such as coding, data analysis or digital solution development.
That gap can become particularly significant when graduates begin applying for opportunities in the technology industry.
SIC is designed to provide practical experience in a range of technical areas.
Students develop skills in Python programming, algorithms, problem-solving, data processing, visualisation and dashboard development.
But the programme does not stop with technical knowledge.
Students also develop communication and creativity skills. They are encouraged to work together and collaborate through practical exercises and the recently held hackathon.
The result is an approach that connects technical learning with the interpersonal skills needed to work in diverse teams.
When Skills Become Business Ideas
The impact is also beginning to extend beyond formal learning.
According to the facilitators, some students have discussed business ideas with them and are exploring ways to use their new skills to earn an income.
Some have considered creating websites for companies or local businesses.
Others have experimented with ideas such as tools that monitor internet performance and other digital services.
A few students have already secured employment.
That development is particularly encouraging for the programme’s broader objective of helping young people prepare for graduate programmes and entry-level positions in South Africa’s technology industry.
The skills being developed are not simply being kept inside the classroom.
Students are beginning to think about how they can use them in the real world.
Kamva Twala: Bridging the Industry Gap
For Kamva Twala, the SIC programme has helped turn academic knowledge into something more practical.
Originally from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, Twala is currently studying for a postgraduate diploma in Cybersecurity after completing his Bachelor of Information Technology degree.
His goal is to build a career in cybersecurity and software development.
Twala applied to SIC because he wanted to strengthen his technical abilities and gain practical industry experience.
Before joining the programme, he already had a solid academic foundation. However, he had limited exposure to industry-level development practices and collaborative software projects.
SIC gave him an opportunity to bridge that gap.
“SIC has provided an opportunity for me to bridge that gap; by working on real-world challenges while learning from experienced facilitators.”
He says the programme has strengthened his Python programming skills and improved his problem-solving ability.
It has also taught him how to approach software development in a professional environment.
But Twala’s experience has extended beyond coding.
He has also gained a greater understanding of the importance of collaboration and strong interpersonal skills when working in diverse teams.
For someone preparing for a career in cybersecurity and software development, those lessons can form an important part of professional development.
Mihle Vika Finds Confidence in New Skills
Another SIC beneficiary, Mihle Vika, is from Gqeberha’s Kwa-Zakhele township and is currently in the first year of a Master’s degree in Information Technology (MIT).
Vika became part of the programme through NMU and the Mandela University Africa Hub’s memo calls.
For Vika, some of the most valuable gains have come in areas that had previously been challenging.
The SIC programme has helped him master his knowledge in Python, Streamlit and Data Analysis.
These were among the modules he found most challenging during his second year of study.
The programme has helped change that.
Vika expressed his gratitude to the programme’s facilitators and his lecturers for helping him discover his passion.
More importantly, the experience has changed how he views opportunities in the industry.
Before SIC, Vika says he felt discouraged from applying for internships because of their specific and stringent requirements, particularly those involving Python and data analysis.
Now, his confidence has shifted.
“I was discouraged to apply for internships because of their specific and stringent requirements, which mostly involve Python and data analysis.”
With his stronger understanding of how Python and data analysis work, Vika says he is now confident that he meets those industry requirements.
He believes the critical skills he has acquired have helped him grasp concepts more quickly and efficiently than before.
And his message to other young people is simple: do not let fear hold you back.
He encourages those who have not yet participated in the SIC programme to apply for the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge.
Building More Than Technologists
The stories emerging from the programme point to a broader ambition.
Samsung’s commitment through the SIC programme is centred on helping bridge the digital divide by empowering youth through technology and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)-driven initiatives.
That means developing more than technical capabilities.
The programme is also focused on cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and workplace skills that can help prepare the next generation to lead and thrive in a 4IR environment.
The experiences shared by Dano, Macnamara, Twala and Vika provide different perspectives on that journey.
For facilitators, it is about creating an environment where students can experiment, ask questions and build confidence.
For students, it is about turning academic foundations into practical abilities.
And for some, it is beginning to translate into something even bigger: ideas for businesses, confidence to pursue internships and opportunities to enter the workplace.
A Different Kind of Digital Opportunity
The technology industry moves quickly.
Skills need to evolve. Employers need people who can solve problems. Teams need people who can communicate and collaborate. Young professionals need opportunities to turn what they have learned into something they can actually use.
The Samsung Innovation Campus programme is seeking to connect those pieces.
At NMU, students are learning Python, data analysis, algorithms and digital development. They are also learning to experiment, collaborate, communicate and think about how their skills can create opportunities.
For students who once questioned whether they met the requirements for an internship, that change can be significant.
For those exploring business ideas, it can be the beginning of another journey.
And for those who have already secured employment, it is evidence of skills moving from learning into opportunity.
The technology may be digital.
The impact is deeply human.
