“What’s your first impression of India,” Renu Khanna, Global Head of Leadership at Tech Mahindra, asks a group of visiting graduates from South Africa who have just arrived in Hyderabad.

TechM to train students “Technology,” pat came the reply from one of them. About 50 graduates, mostly drawn from the not-so affluent places in the African nation, have begun their six-month course in technologies and communication skills at Tech Mahindra’s Learning Centre.

Through this pilot, the South African government kicks off a campaign to train its youth in IT and communication skills as it set its eyes to become the IT Hub of Africa.

“Our aim is to become the IT hub for the Continent. We would like to emulate the success of India in information technology. We would like to learn from India’s experiences. It is not just about learning technology competencies. It is about exposing our youth to global professional practices,” Pule I Malefane, Consul General of South Africa, told BusinessLine .

Six-month programme The Mumbai-based diplomat was in Hyderabad as the group is being inducted for the six-month programme. After reviewing the outcome of the pilot, South Africa would like to scale up the programme. “We expect major spin-offs from this pilot. Some of them would like to become IT professionals. Others are planning to start their own ventures. These are going to up catalysts back home to trigger interest in IT,” he said.

“South Africa has made some good beginning with regards to the IT industry. We would like to strengthen this further,” he said.

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