IIG Academic Programme is a gift to companies and unemployed learners

Since 2019, we’ve had the privilege of developing the Insurance Institute of Gauteng (IIG) Academic Programme. As this year’s cohort is busy with the course, we’re reminded of how special the programme is for industry as well as the learners.

We realised we were onto something potentially magical early on when we began the process of inviting applications from unemployed South Africans. What emerged was heartbreaking but, as always, our mission was to find the positive and ensure that learners would be the ultimate beneficiaries.

The applicants shared sad stories of how they’d studied at some point but despite holding qualifications were unable to enter the world of work. What we realised is they had been given poor or unsuitable advice on what course would be a fit for their personality and would also make them employable in industry.

The IIG Academic Programme bridges the gap between employers’ expectations for skilled employees and unemployed people’s need for meaningful work.

Considering what the programme teaches, once learners come through the modules they’re ideally suited for absorption into the workplace. We were also careful to build into this year’s programme a three-day workshop by a world-of-work expert as well as specialist coaching. We know that while some candidates may have the requisite qualification, they may not know how to present themselves during interviews. That’s where the coaching assists them.

As we root for this year’s learners to ace the course, we’re grateful to the Insurance Institute of Gauteng for the partnership, and to industry for embracing this opportunity to place young people. We all started somewhere and it’s heartening when each of us makes a conscious decision to pay it forward.

26 February 2024