Employees of graduates in today’s world are increasingly seeking individuals who are innovative and solution-driven, and who can add value to organisations and the economy at large. Acknowledging the need to not only improve its graduates’ knowledge and skills, but also to increase their future prospects in the changing employment landscape, the University of Pretoria (UP) has launched a future-focused Digital Capability Laboratory.

This facility will capacitate students with the skills set that is needed for them to thrive and adapt in the constantly evolving world of work. Its aim is to address South Africa’s unacceptable youth unemployment rate by upskilling students and developing them into future-fit, employable candidates with the capabilities required to meet the challenges of the digital age.

It forms part of the Erasmus+ SUCSESS project, which is aimed at strengthening university-enterprise cooperation in South Africa to support regional development by enhancing lifelong learning skills, social innovation and inclusivity. According to Prof Berendien Lubbe, a senior research associate in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies and leader of this initiative at UP, the laboratory will be conducting research into ways of tackling the scourge of youth unemployment in the country and boosting employability in South Africa.

Launching the facility on 1 November 2022, Prof Tawana Kupe, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal, observed that it is crucial for the University to prepare and equip its students for the future world of work. “This world is anticipated to be vastly different from the current one, which is why we plan on employing digital collaborative learning as part of our efforts to develop future-fit programmes,” he said. “This next generation of graduates is expected to change jobs and professions multiple times across many emerging sectors, and will need to be continually upskilled to remain employable.”

Education authors worldwide concur that the current educational systems and qualifications are rapidly becoming obsolete. It is therefore important to recognise which essential skills need to be developed in graduates so that they can function optimally in the workplace, while also contributing to the developmental aspirations of South Africa and Africa.

Prof Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, celebrates the official opening of the Digital Capability Laboratory

Prof Kupe added that the Digital Capability Laboratory was aligned to the University’s strategic priorities to build a robust present and future, both for the University and its students, and for society at large. “We are navigating ongoing disruptions at multiple levels, and face numerous complexities that require us to collaborate across academic disciplines and national borders to co-create impactful knowledge and innovative solutions.” These efforts are not only necessary to survive and thrive in the changing employment landscape, but are crucial to the livelihood of future generations.

Prof Sandy Africa, Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Humanities, explains that the facility will be transdisciplinary in its focus, and will be managed by the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and the University’s Department of Career Services. “The lab’s equipment and technologies will enhance students’ limitless potential and nurture their talents, while preparing them to be agile in their future working environments,” she said. Students in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies have piloted several innovative projects in the laboratory with partners in Mamelodi, including a simulated tourist guide evaluation programme and a community development programme.

Prof Africa furthermore highlighted the importance of technology in tackling youth unemployment. “When innovative ideas, industry tools, community engagement and professional simulations are effectively applied to real-world scenarios and contexts, there is no end to the opportunities for youth employment in the Global South.”

Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, says that it is crucial for the University to boost employability by developing graduates who will take advantage of technological advancements to participate in South Africa’s skilled and innovative labour force. “This laboratory attests to our commitment to equipping our students with capabilities for the future.” Postgraduate students in the University’s business management and financial management programmes have already started using the laboratory to identify financial vulnerabilities in companies, and explaining these using economic and supply chain data.

The laboratory boasts cutting-edge technologies, which will offer a creative and unique space for hands-on digital capability building. It is also a test bed for piloting and scaling innovative solutions. Students will have access to technologies that are used in various industries, which will enable them to find innovative solutions to industry-specific problems.

Dr Wesley Rosslyn-Smith, Director of the University’s Centre for the Future of Work, provided technical direction for the establishment of the laboratory. He remarks that this state-of-the-art laboratory will equip students with the necessary digital, technical, management and people skills for the future world of work. “It is important for universities to forecast and incorporate future-forward learning pathways that are economical and will facilitate faster learning for students to find meaningful employment.”