SAP University Alliances Programme

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

The premise for the SAP University Alliances (UA) programme is based on the simple philosophy of open collaboration and sharing. The program seeks to interact with academia and other educational institutions around the globe to create, capture, organise, and disseminate intellectual capital of profound standing - continuing to establish SAP as a thought leader and key educational role player in the information technology, engineering, computing and business arena.

History

Initially launched in Germany in 1988, the SAP UA programme now in its 20th year, boasts over 700 participating universities and institutions of higher education in 30 countries and on all populated continents. There are more than 150,000 students participating in courses supported by SAP solutions.

About Us

The official establishment of the SAP UA programme in Africa seeks to leverage collaboration with world-class educational institutions not only across the globe but in Africa, in particular, to strengthen SAP’s presence on the continent and drive innovative growth. The programme was officially launched in 2007 at a peak in demand for information technology skills both locally and globally:

“We need to make urgent interventions-if we are to take advantage of the current favourable growth opportunities in the global economy. The skills shortage is not unique to South Africa. Many countries in the developing world are grappling with the 21st century challenges” - Mrs Naledi Pandor, National Minister of Education, South Africa.

The SAP UA programme aims to provide a mix of conceptual and hands-on learning that will aid students to enhance teamwork and critical thinking skills sets necessary in today’s technology-dependent economy.

Through exposure to the worlds’ leading enterprise software, students can build professional competencies. It is envisaged that this initiative will assist in developing essential communication, problem-solving, interpersonal, and leadership skills. These skills will enhance employment and education opportunities.

SAP UA member schools gain access to the SAP Business Suite family of solutions, including SAP ERP. This comprehensive business software suite supports business, engineering, and information technology programs, enabling students to put classroom theory into practice through demonstrations, exercises and problem-solving, case studies, and research programs.

Our Member Countries

Countries in Africa, which have declared interest in the programme:

Nigeria
Kenya
Namibia
Ethiopia
Zimbabwe
South Africa
Mauritius
Botswana
Tanzania
Swaziland

Member Universities

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
SAP HCM in the HR faculty curriculum
Light-house for institutions in the Eastern Cape
Possible training opportunities
University of KwaZulu-Natal
SAP Business 1 in the faculty of Information Systems and Technology
Possible light-house for the Universities in KwaZulu-Natal
University of Cape Town
SAP IDES in the faculty of commerce
University of the Western Cape
Possible light-house for universities in the Western Cape
University of Technology,Mauritius
To introduce SAP ERP and Netweaver. Possible light-house for the Indian Ocean Islands, such as Madagascar and Seychelles.
Namibia Polytechnic
To introduce SAP ERP and Netweaver and serve a possible light-house for colleges in the region.

Member Opportunities

For faculty and universities, the SAP UA programme provides a multitude of benefits and opportunities. Universities offering innovative, hands-on experience with SAP help increase graduate recruitment rates, making member institutions hubs for the new, technically sophisticated talent needed in today’s global workforce. For students, a deeper understanding of SAP can jumpstart their careers by combining business process knowledge with enterprise software expertise to develop the most valuable skills portfolio in the market today.

Today’s corporate recruiters highly value experience with SAP software solutions, students who come versed in the use and management of SAP solutions are highly marketable to SAP directly, as well as to its customers and partner corporations, regional and global. Those students who achieve SAP certification add significantly to their employability.

Events and Looking Ahead

Train the Trainer Workshop:

The “Train the Trainers” Workshop took place from 14 – 18 January 2008 at the university of the Western Cape. Mr Heino Schrader, Director: University Alliances Programme (Europe, Middle East and Africa Regions) hosted the Train The Trainer Workshop.

The Workshop was designed for the current and future users of the SAP systems in the curriculum for purposes of teaching, learning research. Professors from the Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg in Germany offered this classroom training Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa.
Read the Press Releases:

After the training at UWC’ campus in January we did a short survey and asked whether you would be interested in collaborating with each other. All the replies were positive at the time, so we we’ve created an online link for you to do so. To join please click on the link below.

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/102719/6E0EF8403FBE

User Group Meeting – Walldorf Germany, September 2008
More information and registration to follow.

Contact Us

Nceba Max Fuzani
University Alliances Programme Manager
SAP South Africa,
Tel: +27 (11) 235 6404
Mobile: +27- (79) 876 8627
Fax: +27 (86) 694 8860
Email: max.fuzani@sap.com
Web: www.sap.co.za/universityalliances

Heino Schrader
Director University Alliances EMEA
heino.schrader@sap.com
uasupport@sap.com

Explore the global programme.