The University of Limpopo has embraced the 4th Industrial Revolution. Therefore, the design of the Certificate in E-Commerce should be considered in the context of 4IR and its attendant elements consisting of AI and Digital Economy, among others.
It is common cause that South Africa is a leader in Africa’s digital economy. As a result, E-commerce has experienced growth. In monetary terms, the South African e-commerce market is estimated to have a turnover of over R130-billion. It is further projected to grow exponentially in the next five years, informed by the expansion of online shopping and retail apps and the growing number of South African consumers with access to the internet.
Of course, we are not under any illusion that the e-commerce ecosystem will replace physical retail, which is still much part of the preference for many South African consumers. However, we believe that the two channels will co-exist, rather than one displacing the other.
The introduction of the Certificate in E-Commerce is part of our contribution to achieving the National Development Plan goals involving the imperative to improve digital infrastructure, develop digital skills, encourage digital innovation and more significantly, to stimulate digital commerce across vital industries.
Furthermore, through this certificate, we intend to contribute to the achievement of the Limpopo Development Plan 2025 – 2030 which aims to unlock digital opportunities, to propel the economy of the Limpopo Province into the 4IR and to upskill residents to capitalise on available opportunities.
The Certificate in E-Commerce is tailored to address the skills gap and thus promote the creation of a thriving digital economy nationally, regionally and provincially.
In our view, we have managed to design a programme that is attuned and responsive to the changing and evolving expectations and needs of the market we serve. We are looking forward to welcoming our new cohort of participants soon with the view to ensuring and achieving lifelong learning.
Find out more, visit www.ul.ac.za
