Interview with Vesna Ivanoska for www.mkd.mk.
SEDC is a leading training center in Macedonia and the region, specialized in academic programs and training in the field of information technology, design and business management, which at the beginning of December was rebranded and operates under the name Qinshift Academy.
In the rapidly developing IT industry, including information technology education and digital skills, the transformation of SEDC into Qinshift Academy marks a significant milestone. The rebranding initiative led by Vesna Ivanoska, General Manager of SEDC – now Qinshift Academy, reflects a strategic move to bridge traditional experience with cutting-edge innovation. In this interview we talk about rebranding, transformation, educational evolution, global influence…
1.One of the first non-formal education centers, well known as Seavus Education and Development Center or SEDC evolved into Qinshift Academy. How did the need for rebranding come and what were the key motivations behind this transformative initiative?
The rebranding of SEDC is a natural and expected change that occurred as a result of the transformation of the technological pillar of the KKCG Group, which has been owned by our parent company Seavus, now Qinshift, since 2 years ago. The change is part of a larger plan, bringing together several European leading names in the information industry under the common brand Qinshift – a technology giant in the development of innovation and technology, with more than 3,500 employees, over 300 clients, 28 offices, and a total revenue of over 200 million euros. Hence, for us as an educational center and the only education company in this elite company, rebranding is a great honor, responsibility and most importantly, a huge opportunity for accelerated growth and expansion of our now proven products and services throughout Europe.
What progress and innovations in terms of education can the students of the Academy expect? How will the curriculum and experience you have offered so far evolve to meet the demands of the IT and digital industry? What impact will Qinshift have here?
Qinshift Academy is a continuation of a firmly established and thoroughly organized system of designing and implementing complex educational programs. Of course, in addition to the standardization and consistency of quality, our activity requires constant renewal not only of the content, but also of the methodology and the general approach to mastering a certain competence. Not to mention how much the appetite has grown and the criterion among users has been raised for innovation in expression, innovation and the speed with which information is marketed, that is, consumed. Сепак, она што за среќа е релевантно секогаш и на секој пазар е квалитетот, информираноста, иновативноста и посветеноста на наставниот кадар – менторите, асистентите, експертите по кој веруваме сме и тоа како препознатливи. Qinshift е компанија со големи аспирации да се етаблира како една од водечките технолошки брендови во Европа , па во рамките на истата и ние, како Qinshift Academy имаме амбициозен план да го следиме и помагаме тој раст, но и независно, да претставиме дел од нашите проекти на целосно нови пазари.
3.What does the internationalization of SEDC, i.e. Qinshift Academy, mean? How important is global influence in the field of IT and digital skills?
Even before our official rebranding, as SEDC we had a strong presence in the region through several activities and projects: In Serbia, the programming academy has been operating for the third year, and since last year, we also have the DevOps Academy, the Software Testing Academy and the Digital Marketing Academy. Previously, through our regional partners EFSE and their Tech Boost program, we were part of a regional accelerator program involving 20 tech-oriented startups, and the winner came right from our program. With Accelerate 2030, the largest global accelerator program for companies that have a social impact, we went beyond the region and once again proved our quality by selecting our global finalist in the top 12 startups in competition from 260 companies supported by national programs. In all our online academies, and most of them are like that, we have students from the region and from outside.
However, becoming part of a group like Qinshift opens a completely new chapter for us, primarily in terms of markets and resources in which the company is present or markets in which it has an interest to operate. In that sense, our goals as an educational center will follow the plans and appetites of Qinshift, both as a service provider and as an employer of choice.
4.Partnerships play a key role in the success of educational institutions. Could you share any upcoming collaborations or initiatives that Qinshift Academy will be offering for its students?
Standard partnerships with global education and testing vendors continue. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe, EC Council are represented through our academies. We are also an authorized testing center for Pearson VUE, Kryterion, EC-Council, ACi and Certiport test. In the last two years we have also provided CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certification from a leading British certification company with over 27 years of experience in the field of professional certification. Currently, intensive work is being done on the development strategy for new markets in the region and beyond, for which, first of all, partnerships will be established through existing Qinshift locations, 28 in total around the world, and we already have interest in support from several external organizations.
5.SEDC has been on the Macedonian market for 13 years. Until now, thousands of students have gone through the educational process of the educational center. How many students and mentors are currently at the Academy, and will the rebranding process affect them?
With the completion of this year’s generation, as Qinshift Academy we count more than 20,000 students so far. The new academic year started in October, with 600 new students joining these 20,000. We have at our disposal a team of 250 colleagues who are active mentors, coordinators or assistants. Operationally, the rebranding process will not significantly affect our students, except that it will bring much greater opportunities for their placement inside for the needs of the company which now has over 3,500 employees, our coaching staff is increasing and diversifying, the offer of programs and of course the internationalization of the brand will also give greater weight and recognition to their diplomas throughout Europe.
6. The IT and digital industry is dynamic and constantly evolving. What are the plans of Qinshift Academy in terms of dealing with the changing needs of this sector, that is, by placing quality staff on the Macedonian IT market?
2023 was a year of major changes on the global technological scene, primarily as a result of the economic challenges of the economy in the post-pandemic period and the need to transform the workforce, but also work models (remote/hybrid). In the meantime, the relevance, but also the potential risks of the increased use of digital media, and thus the importance of data and its security, continued to grow. This of course culminated in the penetration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in all spheres of operation and its massive use.
As a result of this, the demand for digital skills has increased manifold. Hence, I would say, the need for changes has become our everyday life and as a training center we constantly follow trends and test concepts. The pressure is huge as soon as there is a buzz about a trend, to find it on the menus of the training centers. We try to find a balance between timing and well-done “homework” to really offer usable knowledge, not just marketing to create expectations.
The Macedonian IT market follows global trends in “talent management”, pays great attention to the selection and development of the workforce and often contributes to our work through initiatives for student projects, with which we create quality education together.
How satisfied are you with what has been achieved and what are the future projects as Qinshift Academy?
We end the year with an impressive number of 20,000 students and more ready than ever, we start a new, hopefully even brighter chapter. For us, 2024 will be a year of adaptation and development of projects for the international market. In the meantime, local and regional activities are ongoing for a total of 600 students who started the school year in October this year, and we expect to complete the process by next October. That period will coincide exactly with the launch of 2 new academic programs intended for the European market. At home, we will pilot an advanced level in the Programming Academy intended for already active professionals from the IT industry. Furthermore, we are upgrading and digitizing the existing platform for cooperation with companies in the direction of even more efficient development of student projects as a model for early recruitment. There will also be events for networking and promotion of interesting news and personalities from the regional and world scene that aim to animate the scene of creative and digital industries in the region.