SA software engineers unite
On May 24th, the fourth annual Software Engineering Colloquium kicks off in Cape Town.
Organised by the South African section of the Computer Society of the IEEE (the international body for electronic and electrical engineering), the colloquium provides structure to the key debates around better software development – and the development of this sector in SA.
For the first time, it is being co-presented by the BITF (Black IT Forum), with the objective of continuing to develop professionalism in the industry, as well as to look at factors to increase the number of young black people looking at a career in software development.
The theme for this year’s event is “Made in South Africa”, which can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, delegates to the colloquium will hear from top international and local industry figures on issues relating to building this country as a global player in software development. Secondly, the intention is to find ways to make South Africa a bigger and better market for its own software technology.
“It is time for South Africa’s software industry to unite and present a unified face to business and government policymakers. For too long our software development industry has been fragmented. We have lots of smart, hard-working developers, and lots of innovative and skilled development companies,” said Wesley Diphoko, Executive Director of the BITF in the Western Cape.
“However, we have never stood up and asserted our place as an industry in our own right. We are not just a bunch of service providers to other sectors – the software industry makes jobs and generates wealth just as much as the manufacturing or mining or retail sectors. At SE12, this is going to change forever. The SA software industry has found its own voice.”
Loading ...