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What is the Cyber Security Academy
The Absa Cybersecurity Academy is an initiative established by Absa Group, a leading financial service provider in Africa, in partnership with the Maharishi Invincibility Institute and The Hein Wagner Blind Academy. It is a comprehensive three-year academic programme designed to provide formal technical education, practical hands-on experience, and intensive personal mastery and soft skills development to young talent in the field of cybersecurity. This ground-breaking initiative offers an immersive educational experience of the highest calibre.
What makes the programme unique?
The secret to the success of this programme is that we do not only focus on developing technical skills, but on creating a whole being through consciousness-based education and/or interpersonal and personal skills. For the programme to be successful, we develop each student holistically by balancing the technical, social, and emotional skills required to ensure that they are not simply technically competent, but also adequately prepared to succeed in the world of work.
The Maharishi Institute was created in 2007 with the ambition of making tertiary education accessible to South Africa’s youth by providing non-educational support to students who want to access education through accredited educational partners. In so doing, it showcases South Africa as the leading innovator in education provision. The institute supports student learning that focuses on the student, rather than just books or information.
The students will not only get accredited cybersecurity training but will also benefit from bridging courses and personal development, including transcendental meditation. It also includes financial support, including bursaries and work experience.
The Hein Wagner Academy specializes in the post grade 12 training, of blind and visually impaired persons, and is based in Worcester, South Africa. The Hein Wagner Academy was founded in 2019 by blind extreme adventurer and motivational speaker, Hein Wagner. The training facilities are set up to cater specifically to the training needs of the blind and visually impaired. Each computer has a speech and magnification programme already loaded and our lecturers and trainers are highly specialized with years of experience in training the blind and visually impaired.
With the Hein Wagner Blind Academy and Maharishi’s partnership, Absa is able to impact and shape the curriculum from institution level which plays a huge role in bridging the gap between the qualifications received and the skills requirement in a workplace.
We endeavour to provide learners with a 12-month internship programme after completing the 3-year programme with both the academies.
When was the Academy established and why?
The Academy was established in 2019 in partnership with Maharishi Invincibility Institute with the goal of addressing the global skills shortage in cybersecurity and closing the youth unemployment gap in South Africa. As our world becomes increasingly digital, the need for cybersecurity specialists has never been greater. In 2021, Absa further partnered with Hein Wagner Blind Academy to bring our people with disability along on the journey as well. Absa's commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, which led to the creation of this innovative education initiative.
What is the impact of the academy
The Academy's impact is twofold. Firstly, it is to provide career opportunities for our youth and positively reducing unemployment in South Africa.
Secondly, the Academy addresses the critical cybersecurity skills gap in South Africa, globally and contributes and aligns with our Sustainability strategy. The Academy actively bridges this gap and empowers young talent to enter this high-demand field.
What is the vision of the academy
The Academy represents a vision of empowerment and opportunity for the youth of South Africa. In a country with high unemployment rates, initiatives like the Absa Cybersecurity Academy equip young talent with valuable skills and promising career prospects. It aligns with Absa's strategy to be an active force for good in the communities it serves, cultivating a robust cybersecurity talent pool within South Africa, the rest of the African continent and globally.
Successes
The success of the Absa Cybersecurity Academy has resulted in 19 young individuals obtaining permanent employment at ABSA in 2023. It is noteworthy that 85% of these individuals are female. Additionally, in 2023 a second group of 19 learners enrolled in an internship program with Absa after completing their 3-year program at the Cybersecurity Academy. In October 2024 17 of the interns were absorbed within Absa. We also had 2 graduations from both the Academies and 33 learners received their Diplomas, 20 of the graduates joined Absa in November 2024 for their workplace exposure journey. Click here to view the press release
Due to the success of the Cybersecurity Academy, we have extended the Academy to reach a further cohort of young people in Johannesburg South Africa which commenced in July 2024 to start their 3-year journey with Maharishi Institute. We will also be recruiting for a new cohort in 2025 for the Hein Wagner Blind Academy
Videos
Please click here to see the story of 23 students who graduated Absa’s cybersecurity academy
Absa celebrates the graduation ceremony of the Hein Wagner Academy
Please click here to see Alcharne’s story
Please click here to see HWA Graduates' stories
Please click here to see Manoj's video
Please click here to see Sandro's video
Contact us
For more information, please email us at: CyberSecurityAcademy@absa.africa