Emeris dialogue explores how AI could expand opportunity in South Africa - IOL

From left to right: Alex Pryor (Founder and CEO of Top Pryority), Dr Andre Abrahams (Executive Dean: Academics at Emeris), Louise Wiseman (Managing Director of Emeris) and Chesare Pillay (Head of Partnerships and Technology at CAPACITI), sharing their perspectives on the changing relationship between education, technology and the world of work during Emeris Cape Town’s recent The Skills and Education Dialogue (panel discussion). 

As AI continues to reshape the world of work, Emeris brought together the education and industry experts to explore a pressing question: Can AI help create greater access to opportunity in South Africa?

Emeris is an educational brand of the Independent Institute of Education which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution.

The discussion looked beyond the hype around AI and explored what the technology means for education, skills and jobs in the real world and at how South Africa can build an education system that will keep up with a changing world.

This included rethinking teaching and learning to creating stronger pathways from education into meaningful opportunities.

"When creation becomes easy, being chosen is the hardest part," said Chesare Pillay, Head of Partnerships and Technology at CAPACITI. "The role of Higher Education must therefore evolve beyond simply transferring knowledge. It must help people think critically, create, adapt and distinguish themselves. Technology may transform education, but people remain at its centre."

The dialogue also marked Emeris’ one year milestone and reflected on the role education can play in preparing young people to not only navigate a changing world of work, but how to exist meaningfully in it.