“The Biggest Excuse”: Gent Shares Google’s Free 5000 Scholarships for South Africans

• An AI consultant shared a plug for 5000 free Google Career Certificate scholarships available to South African students
• The scholarships cover three of the most in-demand skills right now, including AI essentials, cybersecurity and data analytics
• South Africans rushed to the comments with questions, with many already signed up and others wanting to know if the scholarships are open to people who are not currently students

Akhil, an AI consultant and career coach, dropped another plug that South Africans needed to hear. In a video shared on his page, he discussed a deal between the Department of Higher Education and Google that unlocks 5000 free Google Career Certificate scholarships for South African students at public universities and TVET colleges.

Google Career Certificates are fully online, self-paced programmes designed to get learners job-ready in high-growth fields without needing a degree or any prior experience. According to Google, the certificates take between three and six months to complete and are recognised by employers globally. The three certificates Akhil discussed as the ones worth going for are AI Essentials, which teaches the practical use of AI tools in the workplace. Cybersecurity is where starting salaries in South Africa can go above R400,000. Data analytics, he described as the single most requested skill in tech job listings right now. Google says that a large number of people who complete the certificates land a new job, a promotion or a salary increase within six months.

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Akhil reminded Mzansi that a certificate alone will not get them hired. A portfolio and a smart approach to applying still matter. But he said this removes the biggest excuse of not being able to afford the training.

Watch the TikTok clip below:

SA gets interested in Google's free scholarship

Netizens were excited and had plenty of questions in the comments section on TikToker @africantechbro.ai's clip:

@Legax wrote:

"Got admitted to the programme a week ago. Currently going through the cybersecurity course. God is great 🙏🙏🙏"

@Ms Thenj' said:

"It says it wants me to sign up to the premium plan to continue studying after the 7-day trial ends, and the monthly premium is almost R500 a month 😫"

@Rhas wrote:

"Just put the link in the comments 😭"

@naledimalunga asked:

"But didn't they say some of them are being discontinued?"

@Jesu Smakade 🙃 said:

"I'm doing the Microsoft Azure one, and it's fun as anything 🥰"

@Mantsho asked:

"So if you are not a student, you are disqualified?"

@bronwyn_00 asked:

"Why does it only let you do a 7-day free trial?"

More on free SA learning opportunities

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• Briefly News recently reported on the same content creator breaking down three free Microsoft programmes on SABC Plus.
• The Inspired Education Group opened applications for a fully funded scholarship that looks beyond academic results.
• A South African TikToker shared a free government training programme that required zero IT experience and zero rands to join.

Source: Briefly News