Upskilling for the Digital Economy 

Gilford T Hapanyengwi President Computer Society of Zimbabwe(Director of ICT - University of Zimbabwe)

What is Digital Economy? Where is it located? To up skill something it has to have been

there◦ FACT: Zimbabwe 96% Literacy rate◦ Zimbabwe ?% Technology Literacy Rate◦ Zimbabwe ?% Technology Development Literacy

Rate

Definitions

Connectivity Devices Market (People) (Customers) (Users) Services

Tools in the Digital Economy

App Stores

App Stores

Apps availability

The Youth Adults Customers Businesses

Who is on the Net

Digital Awareness Digital Exploitation

Up-skilling Zimbabwe

Characteristics◦ Global Perspective

Products of the digital world Shapers of the digital world

◦ Zimbabwean Perspective Varied backgrounds

The Youth

Digitally Exposed Youth◦ Have a usage advantage

Consumer mentality◦ Need a building/developer advantage

Deliberate upskilling required Digitally Starved Youth

◦ Little or no exposure◦ Need both usage advantage◦ Need building/developer advantage

The Youth

Introduction of Digital Appreciation Introduction of ICT Usage

◦ E-learner◦ ICDL kind of programmes

Introduction of appreciation of ICT reach Introduction of ICT development

Solution for Youth

Curriculum change◦ Ministry introduces◦ Industry co-sponsors

Introduction of development competitions◦ To identify talent◦ To stimulate understanding

Young Adults development boot-camps◦ To identify talent◦ To get relevant solutions◦ MNOs stimulating solutions from them

Solutions for Youth

Characteristics◦ Digitally amazed

Belgian Bus Experience◦ Slow adopters◦ Urban and rural split

Adults

Awareness Campaigns Availing of products Availing of convenience Marketing

Solutions for Adults

All age groups are customers◦ Youth

Games Education Applets Social Media Options

◦ Young Adults Gaming Social Media Convenience SWAG

Customers

Urban Adults◦ Convenient services◦ Easy to use services

Rural Adults◦ Easy to use services◦ Truthfulness◦ Ride on Mobile-Money Success

Customers

What percentage of business in your area is now digital or could be digital?◦ CASE study Zimbabwean Banks vs Mobile Money

Business

Executive (Owners) (Decision Makers) Board Management ICT department

Business

Executive/Board◦ Characteristics

Owners Decision Makers Typically not part of the youth movement

◦ Required Skilling King 3: ICT Board presence Reality: All should be ICT “s”killed

◦ How to Skill Exposure to global products Back to “quick” school

Business

How to Re-tool businesses◦ R&D

Partnerships with Academic Institutions◦ In-house applet and solutions development

Business

Management◦ Characteristics

Business focused Seeking Differentiation Seeking Competitive Advantage

◦ ICT Business Alignment

Business

Synergies to ensure quality training at◦ Universities◦ Colleges◦ CPD

What is required◦ Resources◦ Renewal of skills◦ Continued upgrade of curriculum

Way Forward

Consumer Electronic Store World Wide Developers Conference www.flurry.com

Sources