BARRY DWOLATZKY The CPD programme provides advanced skills required locally, and provides a stepping stone to Wits University’s Master of Engineering degree in software engineering
A shortage of software engineers is leading to fewer information technology (IT) projects in private and public sector organisations. This also places a dampener on the economy, as IT is an integral part of business and civil service, says University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Johannesburg College of Software Engineering (JCSE) founder Professor Barry Dwolatzky.
Although South Africa has quite a robust number of lower-level software skills, it lags in top-level software engineering skills. However, the country also has many IT professionals who have distinguished themselves in practice, despite not having the top-level qualifications.
Thus, to increase the number of top-level software engineers, the JCSE has introduced a continuing professional development (CPD) programme in software engineering comprising five advanced courses, which correspond to a set of equivalent Wits postgraduate courses.
“This programme is open to information and communication technology (ICT) professionals who are aiming to fill positions in ICT management, software architecture and design, or leadership roles in software project teams. The CPD programme provides not only the advanced skills required locally, but also a stepping stone to Wits’ Master of Engineering degree in software engineering,” emphasises Dwolatzky.
The CPD programme introduces students to key aspects of the software development life cycle. By the end of the programme, students will understand and be able to apply key concepts and principles in software engineering and software project management.
“The software project management component is crucial, and is one of the main reasons projects do not succeed or are not initiated at all. However, IT skills surveys have uncovered many senior IT professionals who do not have the qualifications, but have the aptitude for software engineering and software project management.”
Aptitude is a key metric in software engineering and, despite being capable, these IT professionals are often hampered in seeking promotion, owing to their lack of qualifications.
“The candidates we are looking for would typically have spent ten to fifteen years in the industry, gaining various on-the-job certifications, such as Java, Microsoft or Oracle training, and have a proven record of their work.
“Passing all five CPD courses with an average of 60% will enable them to apply for the Wits master’s degree and, if candidates can attain the degree, their careers will really take off. Four courses can be completed within one year, with the fifth attainable during the following year,” says Dwolatzky.