New Unisa partnership set to benefit youth and unemployed graduates

In March 2025, NTG Solutions and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) hosted the induction for the Spatial Intelligence Data Science Skills (SIDS) programme at the Unisa Durban Campus. The event was aimed at onboarding prospective participants by providing them with an overview of the programme, including the rules, expectations, code of conduct and implementation plan associated with the programme.

(From left) Dr Joyce Myeza, Regional Director: KZN, Nyawa Dikwayo, Managing Director: NTG Solutions, Andile Ndlela, Chairperson: Regional SRC; and Dalikhaya Mdunge, CEO: NTG Solutions

The SIDS programme is designed for unemployed Unisa graduates, youth, and other unemployed stakeholders. NTG Solutions and the Unisa KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Region are working towards formalising a partnership that would allow the programme to be implemented at the university. Through this partnership, Unisa’s computer laboratories would serve as the training sites for all participants, not just Unisa graduates.

A Department of Employment and Labour official addressing the students

The purpose of the potential partnership is to establish a formal agreement between NTG Solutions and the Unisa KZN Region for the implementation of the SIDS programme (NQF 5) accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). As part of the partnership, Unisa’s learning facilities would be used to upskill students and to create job opportunities for unemployed youth who lack the necessary skills to secure employment. NTG Solutions will oversee the programme’s implementation and project management, with funding provided by the DEL.

The SIDS programme is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of spatial intelligence and its applications in the digital era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Geospatial intelligence solutions (GIS) and data science have become essential tools for analysing and addressing the complex challenges of the world. In South Africa, the integration of GIS and data science presents significant opportunities for innovation and socio-economic development. These technologies can play a crucial role in addressing prevalent issues, such as infrastructure development, natural resource management and social equity.

The plan for rolling out the programme is as follows:

• Access to facilities: Unisa will grant NTG Solutions and its learners access to its computer laboratory facilities for both theoretical and practical training in the SIDS programme.
• Participant selection: Unisa will provide NTG Solutions with a list of eligible learners from its database who meet the programme requirements.
• Regulatory compliance: NTG Solutions will ensure full compliance with Unisa’s regulatory requirements and campus rules.
• Collaboration and alignment: NTG Solutions and Unisa will work together to align the programme’s objectives with the university’s broader objectives with a view to maximising employment opportunities for participants.

The KwaZulu-Natal Regional Director, Dr Joyce Myeza, said this kind of partnership is important for the university since its main objective is to produce employable graduates, adding that any initiatives that contribute to the realisation of this objective are welcome and much appreciated.

Nyawa Dikwayo, Managing Director of NTG Solutions and a Unisa alumna, highlighted that the aim of the partnership between the two institutions is to combine their expertise and resources to equip youth with theoretical and practical skills in data analysis and data science. She further noted that by leveraging spatial data and advanced analytics, the programme can support strategic planning, enhance service delivery, and promote inclusive growth in South Africa. Dikwayo indicated that NTG Solutions was thrilled and honoured to be affiliated with Unisa, which celebrated its 150^th anniversary in 2024. She added that learners in the SIDS programme will benefit greatly from access to campus resources and their participation in the university’s rich culture of learning.

The induction session was attended by about 50 Unisa graduates, along with about 300 other stakeholders from outside the university. Andile Ndlela, Chairperson of the Regional Student Representative Council (RSRC), expressed student leadership’s satisfaction with the way in which the induction was conducted, stating that students were ready to participate in the programme.

Programme attendees

Ndlela further remarked: “We are fully behind this programme as we believe that it is going to assist our students in getting trained about the land and database capture. We are going to support it, and we hope the university management will chart a positive way forward in terms of formalising collaboration between NTG Solutions and Unisa.”

* By Siyabonga Seme, Manager: Communication and Marketing, KwaZulu-Natal Region