Skills development for IT graduates
Pakistan’s IT industry needs numerous resources in different fields to meet the demand for export-based and local projects on a short to medium-term basis. Photo: Reuters
Leading IT companies of Pakistan are creating job opportunities for the technology professionals and offering capacity building programmes.
As the economies around the world shut down amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, it caused an inevitable surge in the use of digital technologies across the world with many individuals and businesses working from home.
Akin to this, Pakistan’s information technology industry also witnessed an expansion in the last two years, after the pandemic resulted in an increase in reliance on technology in the lives of consumers and businesses.
As a result, the exports of the IT industry grew exponentially, which also created opportunities for thousands of professionals.
Export receipts crossed the mark of $2 billion for the first time in financial year 2020-21, according to the data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan. They are projected to reach nearly $3 billion by the end of current financial year and $5 billion in the next year.
To meet the growing demand in the IT sector, companies and software houses launched various capacity building programmes for the experienced and fresh graduates.
These include management trainee programmes, boot camps, short courses and certifications to prepare a workforce that could contribute to the export target of $5 billion set by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for financial year 2022-23.
NdcTech, one of the leading IT companies in Pakistan, has launched several skill development programmes that provide fresh graduates and experienced individuals with real immersive learning experiences as well as opportunities to work with global banks and financial institutions.
With a history of more than 22 years, NdcTech accelerates the digital transformation journey of global banks and financial institutions. It has a strong clientele of 100-plus global banks across 21 countries, and its key offerings include core modernisation, digital transformation, managed services and banking on the cloud.
The company invests in training programmes for its employees through online certifications with monetary benefits, using the Temenos Learning Community tool.
Such programmes have also been launched by other software houses that are planning to start boot camps in collaboration with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).
The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has also invested $1 billion to support such initiatives.
“PSEB took on board 16 IT companies to organise boot camps as part of its capacity building plan for IT graduates and professionals in different in-demand fields of the local IT industry,” said PSEB Management Director Usman Nasir.
Pakistan’s IT industry needs numerous resources in different fields to meet the demand of the export-based and local projects on a short to medium-term basis, he added.
These programmes not only provide an upward trajectory to the IT graduates, but also cater to the human resources demand of the tech industry at the local and international levels.
There is a high demand for technology professionals in the job market, and many local opportunities are now surfacing that promise a good career in the field of IT and consultancy. Therefore, college graduates should consider pursuing higher education in the field of software development and computer engineering.
These programmes provide professionals with the opportunity to get hands-on training from experts working in this sector. It also gives them a chance to work in cross-functional teams that have people from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to kick-start their career, realise their potential, and become the next generation leaders.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2022.
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