<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;font-family:Times;line-height:normal"><div class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><p class="s5" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:1.2"><img src="x-apple-ql-id://328862FA-48A8-4C0B-975B-5A4AEC6866F3/x-apple-ql-magic/AD50C129-E945-4AFE-897A-1651FB13EC03.jpg" class="s3" style="width: 123px; height: 78px; "><span style="line-height:21px;padding-left:36px">​</span><span style="line-height:21px;padding-left:36px">​</span><img src="x-apple-ql-id://D0180B39-F9B8-401C-93F3-771FC44B216D/x-apple-ql-magic/F0C97C12-65B5-47F1-BEB5-432828539EB2.png" class="s4" style="width: 111px; height: 58px; "></p>
</div><p class="s7" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:1.2"><span class="s6" style="line-height:16px;font-weight:bold;font-size:14px">Kenyan Government and SAP to expand skill set of local graduates</span></p>
<p class="s7" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:1.2"><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">Training aims at improving youth employability in the country’s robust ICT sector </span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">and</span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic"> is</span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic"> </span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">in</span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic"></span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">line with vision</span><span class="s8" style="line-height:14px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic"> 2030</span></p>
<p class="s7" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:1.2"><span style="line-height:21px"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s9" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">Nairobi 20</span><span class="s10" style="line-height:8px;font-size:7px;vertical-align:super;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">th</span><span class="s9" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic"> September, 2012…</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">government of Kenya through the Kenya ICT Board and SAP has</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> today announced a partnership that will see 100 bright but underprivileged students</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">undergo training</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> to become </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">certified SAP</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> Software engineers.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"></span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Dubbed </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">“SAP</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Skills for </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Africa”, the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Programme</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> commits to deliver professional training and certification to Kenyan university graduates.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> The programme</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> will seek to</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> substantially improve the employability of young, bright </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">university</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> graduates</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">and equally deliver on the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> government’s mandate to promote digital inclusion, to forge Kenya as an ICT hub for Africa and drive ICT skills development.  </span><span style="line-height:21px"> </span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span style="line-height:21px"><br></span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">“The</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> SAP partnership is key in equipping our young professionals with high end ICT skills that are on demand in the Kenya and </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">the wider East African Market. This</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> effort provides a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">much needed skill</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">set for graduates who would otherwise not have had the privilege to be exposed </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">to this</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> spe</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">cific set of world class skills",</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> said Kenya ICT Board CEO, Paul Kukubo.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"><br></span><span></span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The Kenya ICT Board and SAP are </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">in </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">partners</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">hip</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> to deliver the latest skills and knowledge to the students.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> The </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Kenya</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> ICT</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"></span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Board will provide</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> classrooms with ne</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">cessary computer infrastructure and will be</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> charge</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">d with the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">overall management of the programme</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> that will take place at the Multi Media</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">University</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">, whereas SAP</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> will provide</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> instructors, training m</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">aterial and educational systems.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Delivery of this programme will include the provision of certified instructors, tra</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">ining material and case studies </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">with</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"></span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">SAP‘s</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> largest investment </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">being</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">waive</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">r of any</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> costs related to the pr</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">ogramme for the students;</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">a </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">significant</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> financial investment.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Modules of study for this period will be focused on best busin</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">ess practices and SAP skills in</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> financial and managerial accounting, sales and distribution, procurement, human capital management, database and technology, system administration and also around business reporting.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">“</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The SAP Ski</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">lls for Africa programme aims at ensuring</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> that each and every university graduate is equipped with the skills necessary to enter the job market and not only gain economic stability and prosperity but also to be able to plough back into the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">ecosystem”, </span><span class="s11" style="line-height:21px;color:rgb(255,0,0)">said Pfungwa Serima,CEO Africa, SAP</span><span class="s11" style="line-height:21px;color:rgb(255,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">By working proacti</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">vely with the government bodies</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> and with its customers, SAP has </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">taken</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> the lead to deliver the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">opportunity for students to receive additional practical skills, business and system knowledge </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">that will better e</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">quip them</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> for today’s job</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">market, thereby</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> increasing their possibilities of employment.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The programme builds upon the knowledge students gained </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">in their undergraduate studies</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> and provides them with hands-on experience in working with the world’s leading business software applications </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">company. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">SAP training</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> will deliver</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">valuable skills on </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">software</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">use, best</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> business prac</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">tices and processes that</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> will greatly benefit</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> trainees </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">and </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">organizations</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> where the</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">y work</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">in</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> future.  </span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">“</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">This initiative perfectly fits into the MMU agenda </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">of</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> producing graduates who are immediately ready to be productive in the industry upon </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">graduation</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">, over the years inadequate skilling of our graduates has been </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">a chief</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> cause of high employment </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">costs, causing</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> our graduates to hop from one job to the </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">other. If</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> we can churn 100 all rounded graduates</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> annually,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">we shall have arrested this by providing a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> bigger talent pool for employers to choose from</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">, said</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> Prof. Walter Oyawa, </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Principal Multimedia University</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">SAP is committed to ensure that upon the graduation from this programme, students also receive a chance to put the acquired knowledge into practical use in the real work environment. For this purpose SAP has started to work with its customers and partners to ensure the maximum number of internships for the graduates, which will further so</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">lidify their acquired knowledge.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s12" style="line-height:14px;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px">Editor’s Notes:</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px">
<span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold">About SAP</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The world’s</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 195,000 customers (includes customers from the acquisition of SuccessFactors) to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit </span><span class="s14" style="line-height:21px;color:rgb(36,64,97);text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sap.com">www.sap.com</a></span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold">About Kenya ICT Board</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px">
<span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">The Kenya ICT Board’s mandate and objectives are based on advising the Kenyan government on all relevant matters pertaining to the development and promotion of ICT industries in the country. In addition, the Kenya ICT Board provides government and other stakeholders with skills, capacity and funding for ICT projects in order to rapidly and innovatively transform Kenya through promotion of ICT for socio-economic development.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold">About the Multi</span><span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold"> M</span><span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold">edia University </span><span style="line-height:21px;padding-left:36px">​</span><span class="s13" style="line-height:21px;font-weight:bold"></span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Founded</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> in 1948 as Kenya Co</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">llege Communication Technology, MMU </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">became</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> a constituent </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">College</span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px"> of JKUAT in 2008.With a student population of about 3,000,MMU </span><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">is a Public University College mandated to provide training in Engineering, Information Technology, Media and Business related courses.</span></p>
<p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:21px"><span class="s2" style="line-height:21px">Due to its rich history as a Technology College under Telkom Kenya, Multimedia University has the benefit and experience of working with the ICT industry in order to expose its students beyond the classroom theory and principles of technology.</span></p>
</span><br><br>-- <br>Paul Kukubo<br>Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board<br>PO Box 27150 - 00100<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br><br>12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street<br><br>Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 <br>Fax: +254 20 2211962<br>
website: <a href="http://www.ict.go.ke">www.ict.go.ke</a><br>local content project: <a href="http://www.tandaa.co.ke">www.tandaa.co.ke</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tandaakenya">www.facebook.com/tandaakenya</a><br>
twitter:@tandaaKENYA<br>BPO Project: www. <a href="http://doitinkenya.co.ke">doitinkenya.co.ke</a><br>Digital Villages Project: <a href="http://www.pasha.co.ke">www.pasha.co.ke</a><br><br><br>personal contacts<br>_______________<br>
<br>Cell: + 254 717 180001<br><br><br>skype: kukubopaul<br>googletalk: pkukubo<br>personal blog: <a href="http://www.paulkukubo.co.ke">www.paulkukubo.co.ke</a><br>personal twitter: @pkukubo<br><br><br>____________________<br>
Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub<br><br>Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment <br>