This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
September 18, 2019
Nairobi, Kenya - As technology continues to advance and automate various roles, Safaricom, a leading mobile network operator, has taken a proactive approach to address the growing digital skills deficit in Kenya.
The company has unveiled a program called The Digital Academy, which aims to empower and train employees looking to shift to new digital careers.
According to Safaricom, the initiative caters to employees working in technology careers that are becoming automated as computers gain more capabilities and take on more roles.
So far, the company has fully trained 60 of its staff and placed them in new roles, marking an industry first in Kenya.
"Safaricom operates in a fast-paced environment where technology is ever-changing," said Michael Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom.
"Recent advances have automated sections of our network, meaning that certain careers will soon no longer be necessary," he added.
Joseph emphasized that the digital transformation is driving demand for new skills, where there is a shortage of talent in the market.
"The Digital Academy is a human resource innovation that has enabled us to both empower our staff with new skills and to have the right mix of talent based on our customer needs," Joseph said.
The Digital Academy offers a six-month full-time course in five programs, including Technology Automation, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Data Science, and Emerging Network Technologies.
Employees undergo a classroom-based training for the first three months, followed by practical application of their new skills in developing new workplace innovations over the last three months.
Additionally, Safaricom has deployed a digital learning platform that provides on-the-job training in over 10,000 courses to its entire staff.
