National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) News
Empowering young people through AI in higher education, in workplace
Opinion piece by Mr Sthembiso Sithole, a PhD student and social media specialist working in the Office of the Deputy President
Reprinted with permission. First published on SABC News.com
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping higher education and the workplace, creating new opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Deputy President Paul Mashatile has correctly emphasised the need for a human-centred approach to AI that prioritises inclusion, skills development, and equal access for rural and township communities. By integrating AI, data literacy, cloud computing, and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies into higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, South Africa (SA) can equip young people with future-ready skills that respond directly to labour market demands.
Finalists: 2026 ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa
The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) will next week publicly announce the 2025/2026 finalists contending for this year’s NSTF-South32 Awards. These are individuals, teams, partnerships and organisations who are nominated for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa (SA) under 16 categories. Follow the NSTF on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok) where the finalists are publicised, and join us in publicly congratulating them. Keep an eye on your inbox and look out for familiar individuals and institutions that may be in the running for this prestigious national recognition.
#NSTFawards2026
NSTF celebrates 30 years of impact through collaborative effort with its members and stakeholders
Since 2009 the NSTF has partnered with the Mail & Guardian to publicise and promote SET and innovation, and the impactful initiatives led by the NSTF, all made possible by the NSTF membership of South African organisations involved in SET and innovation. To commemorate NSTF’s 30th anniversary in 2025, the Mail & Guardian has just published a special supplement this month, May 2026. Read this supplement to learn more about the NSTF’s rich history of milestones and remarkable achievements.
For more information visit the NSTF website
