A new generation of skilled professionals are being equipped to help SA make smarter decisions about infrastructure, service delivery and community development through Spatial Intelligence Data Science (Sids).
NTG Solutions, in partnership with the department of employment and labour and iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu (WSU), celebrated graduates of its Sids Skills Programme at a graduation ceremony on August 6.
The programme combines spatial planning, data science, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geomatics and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies to equip graduates with practical skills that can be applied across a range of industries.
The graduates are entering a field that plays an increasingly important role in determining where infrastructure is needed, how communities are connected and how government and businesses can make evidence-based decisions.
From planning roads, housing developments and healthcare facilities to managing water infrastructure and disaster risks, spatial intelligence can help decision-makers understand where resources are needed most.
For NTG Solutions managing director Nyawa Dikwayo, the graduation represents more than an academic milestone.
“Communities cannot thrive without effective planning, and effective planning depends on people with the right skills,” Dikwayo said.
“Every graduate represents more than an academic achievement. They represent hope for municipalities, businesses and communities seeking innovative solutions to improve infrastructure planning, service delivery and sustainable development.”
Since opening its doors in 2022, NTG Solutions Academy has produced graduates through its Sids Skills Programme, with participants coming from sectors including transport, local and provincial government, national government, ICT and financial services.
The programme responds to the growing demand for 4IR skills by bringing together several disciplines into one practical learning pathway.
Graduates receive training in spatial data collection and analysis, spatial planning, GIS, digitisation of spatial information, programming for spatial applications, application development, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, monitoring and reporting.
The combination of these skills allows graduates to collect, analyse, interpret and visualise complex geographic information, helping organisations make more informed decisions.
The partnership between NTG Solutions, the department and WSU also highlights the importance of collaboration between government, academia and industry in developing skills that respond to SA’s changing economic and development needs.
As municipalities and other public institutions face growing demands for improved service delivery, professionals with the ability to translate data into practical planning solutions are increasingly important.
The graduates’ work could ultimately influence decisions about where schools are built, how public transport networks are designed, where healthcare facilities are located and how communities respond to environmental and disaster risks.
Their skills can also contribute to the development of more inclusive communities by helping decision-makers understand which areas are underserved and where investment is most urgently required.
For the graduates, the qualification opens opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and workplace experience in a profession that goes far beyond traditional mapping.
It places data, technology and planning at the centre of development.
As SA continues to embrace digital transformation, NTG Solutions Academy believes these graduates can play a role in creating more capable institutions and smarter, more sustainable communities.
