By Levy Masiteng
About 165 third-year Computer Science students at the University of the Witwatersrand will gain access to AI-powered software development tools through a new partnership between the Telkom Foundation, BCX, Alibaba Cloud and Wits.
The Qoder Programme aims to equip students with practical experience in emerging artificial intelligence technologies while they work on real-world software development projects.
The initiative is also intended to prepare young South Africans for an increasingly technology-driven economy and ensure university education keeps pace with changes in the workplace, particularly in software engineering.
“The Qoder Programme is an important step in equipping young South Africans with the digital skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape,” said Maanda Rashaka, senior manager at the Telkom Foundation.
“By partnering with BCX, Alibaba Cloud and Wits University, we are helping students not only engage with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, but also use them responsibly and creatively to solve real-world challenges.”
Professor Richard Klein, head of the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Wits, said AI was already changing how software was developed and applied across industries.
“Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the way software is developed, researched and applied across every industry,” he said.
Alibaba Cloud will provide students with access to its Qoder platform, giving them practical exposure to AI-assisted development tools and emerging approaches to software engineering.
BCX, Telkom Group’s technology solutions business, will contribute industry expertise and help strengthen the link between academic learning and the skills required in the technology sector.
Klein said the partnership would help ensure that Wits’ curriculum kept pace with global technological developments.
“It is important that our curriculum evolves alongside these global developments. Through the Qoder Programme, our students gain access to technologies that enhance their learning experience and better prepare them for the realities of modern software engineering,” he said.
According to the partners, students will gain exposure to artificial intelligence, cloud technology, data and modern software development while applying emerging technologies to practical challenges.
The programme will also focus on responsible and creative use of AI as a tool in software development.
Wits said the partnership ultimately aims to strengthen pathways between education, technology and employment while expanding access to future-focused digital skills among young South Africans.
“At the Telkom Foundation, we believe that access to opportunity begins with access to the right tools, knowledge and experiences,” Rashaka said.
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