GOOGLE PARTNERS WITH ALX TO HOST SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST HARDWARE HACKATHON
Johannesburg, 22 October 2024: Google has announced a partnership with ALX South Africa, an award-winning tech training and career acceleration services provider.
This strategic collaboration is intended to drive innovation in the hardware and networking industry and kick off with Sub-Saharan Africa’s first-ever Hardware Hackathon, on 1 November 2024 at ALX’s hub in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
This event, previously held in countries like Australia, Japan, and France, will bring 20 selected learners from ALX’s talent pool for a problem-solving experience at the Braamfontein Hub.
During the hackathon, participants will be tasked with solving complex server hardware, Linux, and networking-related challenges. The goal is to simulate real-world scenarios that Data Center Technicians face and to give students a taste of what working at a Google Data Center entails.
Participants will also compete for exciting prizes, while the event serves as a pipeline for Google to identify potential candidates for future employment.
The initiative is part of Google’s broader outreach program that began in 2023 and aligns with the company’s global strategy to deepen its ties with education institutions in technology fields such as ALX.
The partnership will see ALX, working with Google to provide upskilling opportunities and introduce graduates to the rapidly evolving tech industry.
Fostering Future Tech Talent in South Africa
A key goal of the project will be to identify and develop the next wave of data center technicians through hands-on training and exposure to real-world tech environments and will offer learners the opportunity to gain insight into Google’s Data Center operations while learning essential skills in hardware, operating systems, and networking.
Elliot Mokoena, Data Center IT Infrastructure Manager at Google, comments that “Our partnership with ALX reflects Google’s commitment to empowering African youth through technology and education. South Africa has a wealth of untapped tech talent, and we want to ensure young people are exposed to world-class education and a myriad of career opportunities,” he said.
Divesh Sooka, General Manager of ALX South Africa, added, “ALX is proud to be at the forefront of developing the next generation of African tech professionals and leaders. Strategic partnerships like this allow us to enable young leaders to enter the global workforce and make an impact on tech innovation across Africa and beyond.”
“The Hardware Hackathon is designed to challenge students while giving them a firsthand experience of the dynamic and fast-paced world of data centers. This event is not only about technical skill development; it’s also about community building and inspiring a more diverse, inclusive tech industry,” added Mokoena.
Growing The Tech Community
ALX’s role in the partnership is pivotal. With its diverse and talented student base, ALX provides Google with access to a talent pool ready to enter the tech industry. Through this partnership, ALX will continue equipping young Africans with the skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Google, in turn, benefits from a strong network of future leaders already shaped by ALX’s world-class training.
“Our collaboration with Google is a major milestone in empowering African youth with in-demand tech skills. By hosting the first Hardware Hackathon in South Africa, we are giving learners a platform to showcase their talents and demonstrate the immense potential in Africa’s tech ecosystem,” says Sooka.
ALX aims to curb unemployment in Africa by enabling 2 million young professionals to secure dignified and meaningful work opportunities by 2030.
