Empowering young people through AI in higher education, in workplace

By Sthembiso Sithole

In recent weeks, Deputy President Paul Mashatile has attended various gatherings, including the launch of the 4IR LAB and the Centre of Specialisation in Mpumalanga, as well as the Human Resource Development Council Summit. These events centered on the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its effects on youth and society as a whole.

During these engagements, the deputy president emphasised the importance of a “human-centered” approach to AI, highlighting the need for the technology to be accessible to everyone. He advocated for efforts to close the digital divide and to avoid worsening existing inequalities. He warned that the benefits of AI are currently concentrated in centres of excellence, leaving rural schools and township innovators excluded.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has championed the integration of AI into South Africa’s education system, with a particular focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. This strategic intervention is designed to prepare young people for the future of work and ensure that the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are shared broadly across society.

“South Africa’s successful adoption of AI will depend less on algorithms than on building a workforce skilled in data literacy, cloud computing, ethical governance, and applied AI integration. We must embed 4IR technologies into artisan training to ensure graduates are industry-ready,” said the deputy president.

Indeed, by including  AI, data literacy, and cloud computing into their curricula, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions will act as pillars of empowerment, providing young people with the skills necessary to survive in a digital economy that is continually evolving and growing. This approach will ensure that township innovators and rural learners are positioned to lead in the age of AI by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions and contribute to their communities effectively.

Deputy President Mashatile’s call for institutions of higher learning to produce graduates that are job-ready is a call that should be supported by all sectors and stakeholders with practical action plans and clear timelines. The rise of AI has demonstrated the potential of creating new job opportunities for graduates, particularly the youth, in the near future.

Speaking on a recent radio interview, Deputy President Mashatile stressed the need to align education with the labour market demand. “So we need to ensure that the curricula are relevant to the current economy. We are in the digital economy now.”

According to Deputy President Mashatile, this will help in building a capable state by, among others, creating a job market that promotes and advances innovation in the digital era and putting South Africa and Africa on the global stage. The youth should be beneficiaries of the success of AI and technology in institutions of higher learning.

This calls for sound and solid research on AI and its integration into higher education and the job market, with the explicit aim of reducing the number of unemployed graduates. Institutions of higher learning must evolve into innovative think tank platforms that strengthen the use of AI in the digital economy, redefine teaching and learning, and provide graduates with the skills and support needed to adapt to a forever‑changing world of work.

I agree with the deputy president that AI should not be considered a threat to humanity but rather as a force for strengthening social cohesion, expanding opportunities, and restoring confidence in our collective future.

AI is already altering industries like automobile production, redefining skill needs, and opening up new opportunities for workforce development. Artificial intelligence can help to develop a stable, inclusive economy by eliminating the skills gap and matching education with industrial demands.  As a matter of urgency, AI must act as a catalyst for opportunity, creativity, and national rejuvenation, ensuring that no community falls behind in the digital age.

As a result, the opening of the Gert Sibande TVET College 4IR LAB and Centre of Specialisation Millwright Workshop in Mpumalanga Province demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing youth with future-ready technical and artisan skills, as well as strengthening industry partnerships and contributing to South Africa’s economic development.

Together, these investments affirm the government’s resolve to build a workforce that is not only skilled and adaptable but also central to driving competitiveness, innovation, and national development. To consolidate these advances, it is important for the government to draft a comprehensive policy on AI that sets clear standards for ethical integration, workforce empowerment, and inclusive innovation.

As the deputy president has proposed at the NEDLAC Labour School, it is critical to establish a framework of a Digital Workers’ Charter, which the deputy president said would be a covenant entrenching the right to retraining, data sovereignty, and digital dignity while safeguarding the principle of human in the loop.

As a country, we must embrace the emergence of artificial intelligence and stand ready to cultivate it for our advantage. This means ensuring that no one is left behind and that all South Africans benefit from its transformative potential. In doing so, we will ensure that technology serves people, strengthens social cohesion, and restores confidence in our collective destiny.

As a young person in South Africa, I appreciate initiatives aimed at preparing our generation for the future job market through skills development, innovation, and digital transformation. These efforts are essential in establishing a digital economy that promotes social unity, increases opportunities, and restores trust in a collective future.

By Sthembiso Sithole: A PhD student and social media specialist working in the Office of the Deputy President