Over 6,000 young Kenyans have enrolled to start their training at African Leadership International’s ALX, the leading tech training provider in Africa, demonstrating a growing interest in the expansion of technological skills and knowledge among young Kenyans.
The 6,322-strong Kenyan cohort joined over 32,000 new tech learners in eight countries across Africa in a monumental celebration to kick-start their training in a suite of newly launched all-tech programs including Data Science, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, and Salesforce Administrator, along with ALX’s new blended learning Software Engineering program. A key statistic arising from the enrollment is the composition of the students choosing to study a data-related course with over half of the new learners enrolling for either the Data Science or Data Analytics courses.
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“By the end of this century, 40% of the world’s population will be African. Yet Africa only has 3% of the world’s software engineers. Given its abundance of young talent, we see Africa as well-positioned to solve the massive global shortage of technology skills.
Our mission at ALX is to harness this wealth of human capital by developing millions of digital leaders from the continent in the next decade,”
said the founder of ALX Africa, and CEO of African Leadership International, Fred Swaniker.
In addition to enrolling over 6,000 new students for training, ALX Kenya also announced the opening of its new tech hubs in Nairobi, heralding the start of ALX’s new blended learning model. The hubs are intended to supplement the shortfall in the continent’s general infrastructure, providing high-speed internet and stable electricity in accessible co-working spaces to address the critical infrastructural challenges that many students face.
Built to foster productivity, the hubs offer spaces for peer support, training, networking, and professional development, as ALX’s programs will for the first time blend online learning with in-person training.
“Our new tech hubs will enable deepened training, cultivate growth, and build professional competencies needed for the ever-changing world of work. We intend the hubs to be a space where learners will be developed into well-rounded tech professionals, equipped with not only technical skills but also the soft skills that are crucial to succeed in high-growth industries,” says Peter Muriithii, General Manager at ALX Kenya and The ROOM.
With onboarding activities taking place throughout the week, Karibu “Orientation” ceremonies were held to welcome thousands of new learners to ALX as they commence their training. These first cohorts of learners will receive training in some of the most in-demand skills of today, preparing them to launch and grow their careers in the global digital economy.
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In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, ALX is building the largest pool of trained technical professionals in Africa, thereby addressing the worldwide tech talent shortfall that is predicted to exceed 85 million people by 2030.
Over 85 000 learners have graduated from ALX since 2021, and approximately 85% of its graduates have found employment within six months of completing their training. Recognizing the importance of ongoing career development, ALX offers its graduates access to a program of lifelong learning, mentorship, and career opportunities.
Reeta Roy, President of the Mastercard Foundation, says,
“We are committed to advancing financial inclusion and education with a focus on Africa and believe that this can only be achieved by working in partnership with organizations like ALX that are aligned with our vision to provide the necessary skills and training at scale for the continent’s young population. Together we can catalyze growth and the role of Africa in solving global challenges.”
Tech hubs to address infrastructure and access challenges
As AI continues to revolutionize industries and disrupt the workplace, soft skills will become increasingly important for professionals looking to future-proof their careers and complement the hard tech skills they acquire. In an automated workplace, skills that machines cannot easily replicate – such as critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, communication, collaboration, and leadership – will have even greater value. Indeed, research conducted by the Stanford Research Institute and the Carnegie Mellon Foundation found that 75% of job success today depends on soft skills.
“In today’s world of AI and Big Data, young people need to be prepared for uncertainty; they need to be agile and adaptable.
ALX’s new all-tech programs have been built around our belief in the importance of reimagining and redesigning education to meet the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our innovative blended learning model is geared towards developing tech leaders and innovators with the most in-demand hard and soft skills to solve the problems of this century,” concludes Swaniker.