African ethics for enhancing soft skills in young IT professionals in Southern Africa

As part of their curriculum in becoming Information Technology graduates, IT students are introduced to ethical theories to better guide their professional conduct. Proponents of African ethics believe that ICT development cannot rely wholly on western philosophies to solve problems unique to the African continent and thus, it is imperative to include local ideals. However, another compelling argument for including African ethics is that fostering greater reflection on the topic is likely to promote appreciation for cultural diversity, a soft skills-related challenge that is particularly prominent when it comes to working in teams comprising members hailing from different corners of the world. This paper describes how African ethics is introduced to an existing ethics module, reporting on common themes observed from student feedback. Students are thus made more self-aware of recurring themes that represent typical soft skill strengths and challenges when it comes to teamwork in a Southern African context.