A new technology institute has launched in Johannesburg, aimed at preparing underserved youth for high-demand digital jobs and addressing South Africa’s growing skills gap.
A major milestone in South Africa’s digital transformation was marked with the launch of the Maharishi NextUp Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
The institute is housed in a 10-storey campus at 56 Main Street, donated by South African tech entrepreneurs David and Tracey Frankel.
The launch forms part of the broader Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII) ‘Education Town’ initiative, which aims to revitalise the Johannesburg CBD by creating a hub for learning directly linked to employment opportunities.
MNIT is designed to prepare young people for roles in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and digital services such as cloud engineering, data science and digital marketing.
The institute will also offer specialised programmes in financial and professional services, developed in partnership with industry to address verified skills shortages in sectors such as banking and insurance.
Crucially, the model is demand-driven, with corporate partners helping to design curriculum aligned to real-world needs, ensuring that training translates directly into job pathways for graduates.
MII CEO Dr Taddy Blecher said the initiative is focused on ensuring young people are not excluded from opportunities created by rapid technological change.
The institute also forms part of wider urban renewal efforts through the Jozi My Jozi partnership, which brings together corporate and institutional stakeholders to restore economic activity in the inner city.
Previous developments under the ‘Education Town’ initiative include a full-size football field in the CBD, security training academies and solar-powered street lighting aimed at improving safety and accessibility for students.
By its fifth year, the campus is expected to operate at full capacity, positioning the model as a potential blueprint for scaling tech talent development across South Africa.
The focus on job-linked education positions the institute as a targeted response to South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge, where access to skills and opportunity remains a critical barrier.
