Charl Coetzee
Namibia is set to get a skills boost as a new information and communications technology (ICT) centre starts training network engineer recruits to maintain the Southern African country’s own infrastructure.
Telecom Namibia, in conjunction with XON Systems and Juniper Networks, on Wednesday officially launched the Telecom Namibia Juniper Networks Academy after preparing instructors since November to lead the training programmes on offer.
The academy aimed to train graduates to several internationally recognised certifications, using a custom-built laboratory, and address gaps in training provision to help network engineers into sustainable employment in Namibia’s ICT sector, XON MD Charl Coetzee said in a statement.
The Telecom Namibia Juniper Network Academy was positioned to become one of the “most advanced” learning facilities in Africa, as network engineers were trained to maintain the current telecommunications networks and design and develop future networks, added Telecom Namibia MD Frans Ndoroma.
“Graduates will receive internationally recognised qualifications for Juniper Networks’ service provider routing and switching track, the enterprise routing and switching track and the security track,” the parties said.
These certifications, which included Juniper Networks Certified Expert Security, Juniper Networks Certified Internet Professional and Juniper Networks Certified Internet Expert Enterprise, supported existing studies with specialisation in engineering, software development, microelectronics and telecommunications.
Polytechnic of Namibia was expected to take over the academy from Telecom Namibia, XON Systems and Juniper Networks after the first year.
Courses would be presented at the Telecom Namibia Training Centre, in Windhoek.