From left Tuelo Pitiri, Busiswa Msiphanyana, Robyn Terry, Siphesihle Shugu and Robert Mwanyepedza
The conference explored how technology and data can be used to optimise government service delivery. For example, SARS is using AI to recover debt, and health services are benefitting from the use of AI in streamlining and optimising service delivery, economics professor Syden Mishi said.
The students reflected their exposure in the classroom resonating with events of this nature and how classroom activities made them hungry to network and learn beyond the classroom:
MCom Economics student Siphesihle Shugu’s key highlight was the articulation of digital inequality, inclusion growth and economic recovery post-pandemic, as her research topic focuses on economic recovery post COVID-19.
She learned about the programme through LinkedIn and applied because of the wonderful experience she had last year and the discussions around the costs and benefits of employment programmes in a high-unemployment economy.
“This provided me with an insight into navigating the complexities of the current economic environment and identifying strategies for leveraging opportunities while addressing challenges.
Siphesihle also believes that conferences are a great platform to network with people in industry, to be inspired and stay updated with the latest government research.
Learning about policy analysis background helped her to understand the discussions on policy impacts, regulatory changes, and economic strategies presented at the conference.
Siphesihle wants to be a financial analyst, economic consultant or policy advisor.
Robyn Terry, another MCom Economics student, believes that in-class experiences have created a foundation for her to understand our economy, from central to local levels of government and the functions of the different departments in public service delivery.
Her eyes were opened on how AI and technology can help improve service delivery and how these services can be easily accessible by those in under-resourced communities.
Her key highlight was how government is truly making an effort to be inclusive, specifically in education and creating ways for underprivileged to have better job opportunities through being tech-savvy, having knowledge of navigating the different platforms available to them for upskilling and finding job opportunities.
Tarryn would love to remain in academia, learn more on how to improve livelihoods of those that are disadvantaged within the Eastern Cape.
PhD student in Development Studies Tuelo Pitiri, focuses on community-based entrepreneurship and employment and heard about the programme via the University’s Memo emails and his supervisor, Dr Florah Modiba.
Tuelo has been curious on how to incorporate the ethical use of AI assistance for literature reviews and using digital data collection tools and software data analytics.
“I strongly believe the shift to AI assistance such as Elicit, digital data collection instruments; MS forms;Google forms & SurveyMonkey and software data analysis, such as Nvivo or Atlas can simplify and efficiently create a flow of advanced research skills and wanted to find out more about the credibility and practical cases of using these tools.”
The most important key highlight that resonated with him was how SARS, CIPC and a country named Estonia was able to transform and digitise their organisational processes to curb insufficiency and improve service delivery.
One of the speakers mentioned that "AI will not replace you but someone who knows how to use AI will".
Tuelo wants to be a researcher in business problem solving and advisory or a Private Equity Investor in financial assets, such as retail bonds, stocks and derivatives.
BCom Honours in Economics student Busiswa Msiphanyana wants to be a data analyst or investment analyst. Her key highlight was SENTECH's strategic change from signal distribution to being a sustainable state digital infrastructure provider.
It emphasises the significance of balancing technological innovation with ethical and security issues, especially in AI development and regulation, she says. Busiswa would “love to be a data analyst or investment analyst”.
PhD in Economics student Robert Mwanyepedza applied to attend because the theme of the conference was a solution to some of challenges most economies are facing. The use of technology and data-driven decision-making is pivotal in addressing local queues, inconveniences and speeding up reaction time.