Global software giant Microsoft is offering scholarships to 1 000 youth so they can pursue degrees in computer science and business administration.
The offer is to study through the first institution that has partnered with Microsoft, the University of the People, an online university. As part of the scholarship, Microsoft is making work space available at several of its innovation centres.
Microsoft's scholarship forms part of its 4Afrika initiative, which aims to train 200 000 Africans in IT fields, and get a million small and medium businesses online in the next three years.
In conjunction with partners, Microsoft's 4Afrika seeks to help drive economic growth across Africa and represents a "massive" investment by the US-based company. Microsoft has made a commitment of $70 million to the initiative.
Africa is home to a billion people and has a combined gross domestic product of $1.5 trillion - just less than Brazil. Some 16 of 30 of the world's fastest growing economies are in Africa, and the combined economic growth of the continent is projected to be around 5.25% between 2012 and 2013. Microsoft has been present on the continent for 20 years and operates in 14 countries.
Skilling up
Microsoft's 4Afrika Scholarship programme will also see it provide mentorship, leadership and technical training, certification, university-level education, and employment opportunities for "promising" African students.
According to the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority's skills plan, in the IT subsector, another 493 software developers will be needed by 2015 in SA alone.
In addition, a further 451 developer programmers, 402 computer network and systems engineers and 351 ICT systems analysts will be required between 2013 and 2015. In the telecommunications subsector, in the same timeframe, 16 ICT business development managers will be needed.
Microsoft says mentoring will be provided by its staff from around the world, while job opportunities - internships, part-time and full-time - will be offered at Microsoft and its more than 10 000 partners across Africa.
In the coming year, scholarships will also be provided to 1 000 youth to pursue associate degrees in computer science and business administration with the first participating higher-education institution, the University of the People. The online university is affiliated with the United Nations, the Clinton Global Initiative, New York University and the Yale Law School Information Society Project.
Students wanting to apply for the scholarships must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma and be proficient in English, as all coursework is taught in English. They must also have access to the Internet to participate in the online classes.
Microsoft is making working space available in its innovation centres in Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda and Botswana so that youth who get into the programme, and are near those locations, have online access. It is also working with various partner hubs across Africa to make similar arrangements for students in other locations, it says.
Applications for 4Afrika Scholarships to University of the People can be submitted online and the first class will start this November.
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