Durban North and Westville Client Connect Event

With Artificial Intelligence rapidly reshaping the world of work, the Durban North and Westville campuses recently brought together its employer partners for a Client Connect breakfast hosted by the campus’ Career Services. Centred around the theme “Supporting students and graduates in the AI Era: Staying relevant in a rapidly evolving workplace”, the event served as both a thank you for the year’s collaboration and a platform for shared insights on how academia and industry can continue preparing students for an AI-driven future.

2Cana Software Solutions, Garlicke & Bousfield, BET Software, Kaleidocode, Hollywoodbets, Livingston Leandy, Baker Tilly Morrison Murray and Zutari were among the organisations that attended.

“Career Services places a great deal of emphasis on building relationships with industry so that students gain a real understanding of what’s happening in the workplace,” said Francine Mashabela (Manager: Career Services). “Even with AI, you still need human skills. It’s not just about the technological advancements but it’s about ensuring students don’t replace human thinking. AI should enhance human thinking, not become a crutch. We still want students who can problem solve, think critically and collaborate”.

Tammy Vermaak (Head of Academics at the Durban North campus), said that thriving in a technology driven environment requires more than technical knowledge. “Foundational theory is crucial, yet students need to learn to adapt quickly, think critically and solve problems autonomously,” she said. “AI is here to stay, so we focus on guiding students to use it responsibly - not to replace their work, but to enhance it. In our lecture rooms, lecturers show students how to evaluate AI-generated content and how to use the technology creatively and thoughtfully”.

Kaleidocode CEO Rory Clarke highlighted the growing importance of adaptability and the ability to learn quickly. “We’ve always valued practical experience, which The IIE’s Varsity College students are strong in. More recently, the ability to learn has become imperative,” he said. “In our technical interviews, we give candidates material they’ve never seen. Those who can learn on the fly and apply new information in real time perform best. Reinvention and lifelong learning are now critical skills because every tool set in our industry is being reworked through AI”.

Veena Rugbar (HR Officer at 2Cana Software Solutions) echoed this, noting that while AI plays a valuable role, over reliance can be a red flag during recruitment. “This year, the amount of copy and paste AI use in assessments was concerning. We had to turn many applicants down because we could identify AI use in their logic based tests. They may have been good programmers, but if you lose your own logical thinking, you lose out in the real world”.

Alumnus Damion Joyner (Data Specialist at National Strategic Hub) shared how AI transformed his career path. “I didn’t see the AI revolution coming, but I quickly realised the game was changing. I used my spare time to upskill and learn how to use AI. When the opportunity opened for a role focused on machine learning and AI, I was ready. Being in the technology space already, it taught me that I had to keep up with how fast the industry moves, and AI has now brought this mindset to every industry”.

The event also highlighted Career Services’ Industry Immersion Programme, which helps students complete 120 hours of workplace experience as part of their qualifications. Activities include job shadowing, workplace observation, informational interviews and workplace placements. Students receive feedback from employers, reference letters to strengthen their profiles and a certificate of achievement upon completion. The programme builds employability skills, promotes early workplace exposure and boosts student confidence.

“I am excited about the opportunity created for us to deliberate on how we can further collaborate with industry and academics in supporting our students. By creating intentional platforms for collaboration, we help our students develop key employability skills early and ensure they are well prepared for life and career after graduation,” said Mashabela.