The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in collaboration with, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (“GIZ”) and The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (“NEMISA”) will convene the 2023 leg of the National Digital and Future Skills Conference from 26 – 27 October 2023, at the East London ICC, Eastern Cape. The theme of the conference is: “Realising the Digital Economy and Scaling-Up Skills Development to Support Innovation and the Digital Revolution”.

As the world moves into the digital era, developing and underdeveloped countries continue to be hit hard by lack of skills to navigate the challenges that come with the proliferation of digital technologies in all spheres of life. This challenge deprives the deserving masses the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the growing digital economy.

The Conference takes forward the objectives of the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy to facilitate stakeholder collaboration in closing the digital skills gap that exists in the society and provides a framework for the prioritisation of critical digital and future skills as well as to ensure well-coordinated and integrated implementation across government and various sectors.

Due to the significant investments required to successfully deploy digital skills in the country, the digital and future skills programme is best conducted in conjunction with government agencies, organised business and labour, the academia, scientific organisations and civil society.

The Conference is a continuation of discussions of solutions for the sector to collaborate and pool resources to achieve the common goal of massification of digital skills. Furthermore, it seeks to evaluate the extent to which the resolutions of the 2022 Conference held in Mhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal have been implemented.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, the Deputy Minister, Philly Mapulane and the executive leadership of the collaborating entities are amongst the 300 expected attendees to this Conference.

The 2023 National Digital and Future Skills Conference is an unrivalled opportunity for professionals from various sectors to gain access to exclusive content, interact with key industry players, and discuss the critical digital transformation.