Tag: education

During my time working at South African Breweries (SAB), I watched young graduates arrive on the factory floor holding hard-earned chemistry degrees. They possessed brilliant theoretical minds. They understood molecular bonds and complex reactions on paper. Yet, when a critical machine on the production line broke down, those degrees often could not get the line moving again.

We know where the jobs are, and we know our young people are eager to work. So why aren’t we connecting the dots? South Africa has 200,000 agricultural jobs waiting to be filled. We also have a thriving Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. This sector includes call centres, customer service, data processing and back-office administration. It can absorb entry-level workers at scale.

Two remarkable economic turnarounds demonstrate what becomes possible when countries support the right sectors, develop relevant skills and strengthen cooperation between government and business. We exist to create genuine and lasting economic opportunities for young South Africans. We constantly evaluate where we invest, what we support and why those decisions matter.

Education reshapes family histories. For South Africa’s first-generation graduates, one degree transforms what entire households believe is possible. Postgraduate learning can create ripples across generations, communities and the nation. Drawing on my experience as both a legal practitioner and mentor to prospective students, I explore why investing in education is investing in collective progress.

To celebrate 65 years of providing trusted insights, we have released a new study that uncovers what truly influences the choices South Africans make when they spend their money. The South African consumer unveiled reflects a shift in behaviour that goes beyond price and focuses on emotion and trust.

It is undeniable that Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, even though still in its relative infancy, has a multiplier effect on student outcomes. I have seen how individualised learning impacts performance, and when combined with daily advances in real life, it often raises concern about the role of human educators in classrooms.

Credit has long had a bad reputation. For years, it has been associated with financial distress, risky decisions and debt traps. But South African women are rewriting that narrative. Through careful, deliberate borrowing, many are using credit as a tool for resilience – enabling education, covering unexpected emergencies and building a more financially secure future for their families.

Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) take our jobs in the future? No. But people who know how to use AI effectively just might. The World Economic Forum predicts this shift, which is why our education system must embrace the opportunities AI offers. We must stop treating new technologies as threats or sources of fear.

The often-cited and widely disputed claim from a 2015 Microsoft report, that today’s consumers have the attention span of a goldfish, may lack scientific credibility. Still, it remains a compelling metaphor for the fragmented nature of modern attention. Add to that the erosion of trust caused by fake news, exaggerated claims and constant digital noise, and it becomes clear why traditional sales strategies are losing ground.

Young people are struggling to find jobs. At the same time, businesses can’t get the skills they need to grow. That’s why technology education is being pushed out of academic siloes to support young talent and help them access world-class, practical and hands-on training.