Jacqui Muller, an academic at higher education institution specialising in IT qualifications, Belgium Campus iTversity, has been nominated for Geekulcha’s annual awards.
Geekulcha’s Top 15 Young Geeks Special Awards honours top young geeks who are successfully harnessing intelligence for sustainable development in Africa.
“I was lucky enough to be awarded the top 15 Young Geeks title this year, but they’ve got an ultimate geek star of the year that I’ve been nominated for as well,” says Muller. Of the five nominations for Muller’s category – Best Innovator – there is one other woman.
Muller, a PhD candidate at North-West University in the field of automation governance and strategy, is an industry co-ordinator at Belgium Campus iTversity, where she aids students in applying their knowledge to real-world requirements.
“That one of our colleagues has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award is testament to the work we are doing to ensure that our students are able to meet real world business demands as best as possible,” says Professor HB Klopper, Academic Head at Belgium Campus iTversity.
Geekulcha aims to cultivate tech culture and foster innovation, particularly among young people in Africa, so that they can become producers of technology rather than just consumers.
Muller adds that she’ll find out whether she scoops the title on 26 September. She explains that the Geekulcha initiative encourages students from throughout higher education institutions across the country to mentor each other as well as aims to introduce IT learning standards across South Africa. “Geekulcha is pretty much a student chapter on steroids,” she says.
As the only Automation & AIAs a UiPath Most Valued Professional (MVP) woman in Africa, Muller is encouraged to see that the importance of innovation and mentorship is being recognised at government level.
“I’m proud to have been recognised as someone who helps mentor young people in my daily life. It’s part of my role on campus to aid students understand what skills the business world does and will need. I’m really grateful that I get to do something I really enjoy and work with youngsters who want to make a difference in the rapidly changing world of IT,” says Muller.
Muller, who also is a certified business analyst, advanced automation developer, and solution architect, runs her own business in addition to her work on Belgium Campus iTversity through which she provides companies with solutions to incorporate current and future technologies into their growth plans.
“I’m really excited about the prospects of automation and what that means for business growth across South Africa as well as the potential that brings with it to skill young people in these technologies,” says Muller.