Upskilling Africa’s talented youth is a sure-fire recipe for success – and making it free means everyone can benefit. Mindful of the ever-increasing demand for qualified data scientists, SAS is offering its customised e-learning portal, Software Certified Young Professionals free of charge to any interested student currently enrolled at a university or higher degree-granting institution.
The ultimate goal, says Andre Zitzke, SAS Manager: Global Academic Programmes, is to help any interested student leave university with working SAS knowledge and accreditation. Enrolment in the Certified Young Professionals programme gives students access to e-learning materials and additional video content, the SAS software necessary for the course, mock exam examples for the certification exams and a choice of five learning paths, including Basic Programming, Advanced Programming, Statistics, Machine Learning and Data Visualisation. Students can choose one, some or all of the courses, although not many take on all five, says Andre. The only cost to the students is the cost of data, as this is a cloud-based course and internet access is required.
At the end of each course, the students can opt to write the certification exam for the course. The courses and exams are independently administered by Pearson Vue, and the credentials earned immediately distinguish the students as having a globally recognised qualification. Pearson Vue hosts a database of SAS-certified people, which students can opt to be listed on once they’ve passed the certification exam, and successful students also receive a digital badge they can use on social media to promote their market-ready skills.
Usually, the certification exam is written at a nearby SAS office or Pearson Vue venue, but because of the current Covid-19 circumstances, SAS has made it possible for students to write the exam at home until the end of July 2020 for free.
Having a SAS certification on your CV opens many doors, not just locally, but globally, no matter what market you’re looking to work in – it’s a great way to stand out in a crowded job market. In fact, a recent social media campaign drew interest from more than 1,300 individuals across Africa – including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, South Africa, Cameroon, Tunisia, Zambia, and Uganda. Such is the weight of the certification that Stellenbosch University has made it a part of their Financial Risk Management course. Educators can also benefit from the programme by joining the SAS Certification for Educators and adding to their qualifications.
To find out more about the Software Certified Young Professionals and the SAS Certified Educator programme, go to the website, http://sas.com/scyp or email Andre at Andre.Zitzke@sas.com.
