Johannesburg, July 29, 2015: Fifty nine students from South Africa today embarked on a six-month visit to India, where they will undertake skill-based training in Information and Communications Technology and Pharmacy to "assist in moving" their state forward.
Fifty students from South Africa's Free State Province will go through a six-month ICT training programme in partnership with Tech Mahindra, an Indian multinational provider of information technology, networking technology solutions and business support services to the telecommunications industry.
The move takes the total number of students associated with the Tech Mahindra ICT programme in India to 100.
The other nine students from the province will be studying Pharmacy at the Manipal Medical University in Karnataka.
The provincial government has identified Pharmacy as one of the scarce skills in the province, particularly manufacturing pharmacists.
It has seen Manipal Medical University, as one of the biggest and well-established medical institutions in India, to be well-placed to capacitating what it called "these young leaders of tomorrow".
"We are very happy to get this opportunity of furthering our studies in India. This is once in a life time opportunity and we promise the Free State Government to work hard and acquire the necessary skills that will assist in moving the State forward," Mapaseka Raputsoane said on behalf of his fellow students before they jetted off from here today.
Upon completion of the ICT programme, the Free State Provincial Government will assist with placement of these students in various Government Departments.
Tech Mahindra will also identify students who do well and will put measures in place to absorb them into their satellite office in South Africa.
Ace Magashule, the Premier of the Free State said this project would go a long way towards growing and strengthening the professional skills base in the Province, and the country as a whole.
PTI