The Teraco Data Centre Academy was established in 2022 to help address the technical skills scarcity within the data centre industry in South Africa, upskill learners for technical roles within data centres, and create much-needed employment.
The focus of the Teraco Data Centre Academy is to create a feeder programme of skilled technicians into the broader data centre industry, encourage individuals to develop an all-round understanding of the data centre environment, and obtain technical knowledge and practical experience. Ultimately, the Data Centre Academy creates much needed data centre skills for the benefit of the industry.
The training comprises an academic and practical component, structured as a six-month classroom-based technical training plan and six months of on-the-job practical work experience. Participants in the programme each hold an electrical engineering N2 qualification as a minimum.
Academy deliverables include:
- Introduction to data centre basics
- UPS, switch gear, and generators
- HVAC
- Occupational Health & Safety, which includes first aid, firefighting, emergency evacuation, and SHE representative training
- Electrical trade preparation
- On-the-job experience within a data centre facility
Since inception four years ago, the Data Centre Academy has enrolled 80 learners from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Ninety percent of the learners have successfully graduated from the programme. Approximately 50% of the graduates have been employed by Teraco, with the remainer being employed by the broader industry.
Development aspects include skills growth on critical data centre components such as electrical, mechanical, cooling, and fire systems. This includes developing social skills that support teamwork, collaboration, and independent and creative thinking.
To provide the necessary technical, functional, and work experience, Teraco has collaborated with the Artisan Training Institute and a training partner to identify individuals who had been through formal Further Education and Training (FET) institutions offering NQF and SETA-certified training. All learners held either NQF level 4 (technical support) or NQF level 5 (systems support) qualifications.
Improving diversity
To ensure diversity and inclusion, Teraco has taken a demographic approach where underrepresented individuals in the technical space are afforded an opportunity. The Data Centre Academy takes inexperienced learners from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and equips them with the necessary skills to become an integral part of a team that operates data centres in South Africa.
A strategic objective of the Data Centre Academy is to improve the gender diversity within the local talent pool. Globally, the industry has historically been poorly represented from a gender diversity perspective. Over 60% of the Data Centre Academy learner intake are women, showcasing its focus on improving female representation in the ICT industry.
Phased approach
The initiative consists of three phases, including the individuals participating in an IT technical qualification, vendor-specific training, and exposure within Teraco’s work environment.
All learners attend six-month classroom-based training at various accredited training providers, which covers electrical, mechanical, cooling, and fire systems. The second phase requires the learners to spend a further six months at a Teraco operational site applying their technical training. They also become familiar with health and safety standards, internal policies, and procedures, the combination of which provides learners with a unique and scarce skill set.
Finally, learners are assessed and appointed into permanent roles. With the necessary skills and experience gained over the 12 month period, learners play a pivotal role in growing capacity and addressing the industry skills shortage.
More than technical skills
Workplace readiness training helps learners develop softer workplace skills, including time management, communication, presentation, being assertive, resolving conflict, and client service. Personal skills that form part of the training modules include money management and individual growth.
The systems support aspect includes developing IT literacy and skills such as introduction to computer systems and technology, computer architecture, networking, data storage systems, installation, maintenance and upgrade of computer hardware and software, basic computer troubleshooting, business communication, and mathematics.
Stepping outside of the norm, a mentorship component is included. This pairs learners with industry professionals who provide personal guidance, networking, and operational insights. Individual learner profiles are shared with the entire organisation and each candidate is identified as an Academy learner. These two items play a major role in fostering a sense of belonging, promoting teamwork, and making learners feel part of a cohesive group.
Continuous improvement
Several learnings were taken from this initiative, resulting in continuous improvement being made to ensure a successful evolution of the training programme.
- Curriculum: Creating a relevant and engaging curriculum is key. It should balance theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring learners become adequately skilled to become employable.
- Market needs: Identifying skills and knowledge gaps is important. Blending this with social challenges ensures an improvement in both elements.
- Resource management: Finding efficient ways to manage funding, implementing mentorship, and guidance plans are essential for the sustainability of the programme and the growth of the candidates.
- Feedback: Implementing feedback mechanisms for candidates has allowed them to adapt and continuously improve.
- Measuring success: Defining clear criteria and metrics has helped to improve the candidates and the effectiveness of the Data Centre Academy. The model used is practical and scalable, which allows it to be replicated in any location.
The implementation of the Teraco Data Centre Academy assists in addressing social equity, economic development, and addresses the local skills shortage in a rapidly growing sector. By fostering a culture of learning and empowerment, the Data Centre Academy can make a significant and positive impact on individuals, communities, and industries. It showcases sustainable development and fosters a brighter future for all stakeholders involved.
