EdTech platform, AltSchool Africa is expanding its learning faculty to introduce Creative Economy and Business schools to help upskill Africans in the creative and business industries.
The institution has traditionally offered courses directly related to in-code and no-code courses. Strengthening its push in the EdTech sector, AltSchool Africa has included content creation, sales, and music business – using Afrobeats as a case study, to its existing nine courses, with applications now open for the first cohort of these new streams.
Since its inception in 2021, AltSchool Africa has facilitated training for tech roles including software engineering, data science and product design. The institution boasts of a 40% course completion rate in its first year. It has successfully enrolled more than 20,000 learners having received over 50,000 applications.
According to a report by the World Bank, over 90% of youths aged 15-24 in Africa are part of the informal sector with low pay due to a lack of relevant skills. This calls for urgency to enhance Africa’s workforce through upskilling initiatives. With about 321 million youths projected to enter the workforce by 2030, upskilling is vital for quality job prospects post-tertiary education.
AltSchool offers programmes with no educational requirements. In addition, they can be completed in as little as six weeks with course fees starting from $100.
Ushering a new era in learning
The new programs focus on non-traditional careers beyond the technology field. According to AltSchool, “they will provide a comprehensive and experiential upskilling platform for aspiring learners looking to forge careers in other growing sectors”
With the ongoing adoption and expansion of technology on the continent, Africa has witnessed a growing interest in its creative economy. Consequently, a new wave of nonconformist career paths has emerged including content creation, music management and influencer marketing. This is ushering in a new era of learning as young people reimagine their goals as well as career prospects outside of technology.
Given an annual growth rate of 8.89%, Africa’s music streaming market volume will approximately reach $362.50M in 2023 and is further projected to be $524M by 2027. With some of the most popular streaming services only coming to the continent late in the last decade, the relevance of jobs within and the wider creative economy has increased.
Quotes
Speaking on the launch and call for applications, Co-Founder and CEO of AltSchool Africa, Adewale Yusuf, said, “Our goal is to create a fun and communal learning platform for all Africans to develop their skills, regardless of their previous education or background. Our unique teaching methods have proven successful in helping our learners better retain information, demonstrating that we understand the complexities of how online education works. We are excited to announce the addition of these two new faculties, with qualified experts leading the courses. These industries were specifically chosen for their rapid growth, and we want to help people quickly enhance their careers in these fields.”
He further adds, “In Africa, many individuals earn low salaries due to a lack of essential job skills training. However, our platform aims to make a positive impact by connecting individuals with the necessary skills for the job market, enabling them to grow and reach their full potential. By doing so, we aspire to contribute to a brighter future for the continent.”
Dr. Ademola Akinrinola, Director of Curriculum and Learning Experience Design at AltSchool Africa, added, “As someone who joined AltSchool Africa from the University of Texas, I understand the significance of an upskilling platform like AltSchool in preparing individuals for career success – locally and internationally. The AltSchool curriculum caters to learners of all levels, from beginners to experts, who possess a natural curiosity and a drive to solve problems”.
Rachel Onoja, Head of Operations at AltSchool Africa shared their commitment to providing learners with a fun, informative and accessible experience. She further added, “We believe that our learners should feel a sense of belonging as they learn in communities and that their time with us should be a profitable investment in their future.”
