Vibrancy and outspokenness, that?s what the University of Johannesburg (UJ) students portrayed during their four days training.? INSETA recently funded 20 Human Resource graduates on training to become skills development facilitators (SDFs). The University and INSETA have always had a good working relationship and when the university?s work integrated learning (WIL) Coordinator, Susanne Taylor approached INSETA on this great initiative, INSETA did not hesitate to sponsor the programme.
?Today?s employers within the insurance sector are prioritising character over high grades. They want people with a sound education, solid technical knowledge and an understanding of the industry ? but skills can be taught and experience earned. Given a choice, employers will pick the worker with good team skills and creative problem-solving skills,? says INSETA’s CEO, Sandra Dunn
Dunn adds that UJ?s WIL programme aligns perfectly with INSETA?s own WIL strategy. ?The education systems of the world are often held responsible for failing to produce graduates capable of functioning in the modern workforce. Schools and tertiary institutions are perceived as out of sync with the industry needs, and are still locked into producing graduates with a narrow, specialist perspective, and limited capacity to think outside the box.”
INSETA?s latest research indicates that today?s business environment, and not only in the insurance sector, needs generalists and people who can solve problems, not specialists and order-takers. Educational institutions should:
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- Emphasise developing skills such as critical thinking, insight, and analysis
- Integrate new-media literacy into education programmes
- Include experiential learning focusing on soft skills, such as the ability to collaborate, work in groups, read social cues, and respond adaptively
- Extend the learning constituency into adulthood
- Integrate interdisciplinary training that allows students to develop skills and knowledge in a broad range of subjects
?In short, students are just unprepared for the workplace and universities,? says Dunn.
Taylor, concurs,?It?s exactly because of this gap, that UJ, more than a year ago designed a programme to incorporate work experience in student?s curricula. While we?re still in the early stages of implementation, we?re very encouraged by the results and impact of our programme. We?ve substantially augmented our standard orientation programme aimed at first year students, to also include the socalled ?hard?, soft skills, to prepare our students better for the world of work as well as practical experience in the workplace. It?s being rolled out to the senior students as well. INSETA has been a superb partner in not only helping us fund our programme, but also linking us up with companies to place students for short periods as part of their orientation to work. A number of students have in fact been offered employment at some of these companies.?
The UJ?s programme takes on various formats: work-directed theoretical learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning and workplace and clinic-based learning.
UJ?s model has three important partners: the education institution, the company, the employer, community and the student. The advantages offered are many: students gain valuable life and work experience prior to graduating, companies can ‘try before they buy’ entry level staff, and the education institution and its lecturers are able to ensure that programmes offered remain up-to-date and relevant to the industry/sector needs.
?What?s even more exciting,? exclaims Suzanne,?is the fact that more importantly, the programme is being taken up by other faculties, such as the Faculty of Finance and Economic Studies, in the Department of Commercial Accounting and Management that has about 900 students enrolled with it.?
A Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) is an individual nominated by the organisation to serve as a liaison between the SETA and the company; they facilitate skills and personal development for employees within a workplace environment.
Role of the SDF:
- Assist the employer and employees to develop a Workplace Skills Plan.
- Advise the employer on the implementation of the Workplace Skills Plan
- Advise the employer on the quality assurance requirements set by the Seta
- Act as a contact person between the employer and the Seta
- Serve as a resource with regard to all aspects of skills development
Through Accreditation & Training Services, this group will complete their portfolio of evidence and will have an additional qualification added to their Human Resource qualifications.?
Both Dunn and Taylor underscore the importance of having a solid partnership between academic institutions, the SETAs and the private sector.
Taylor says,?Without the guidance role ? apart from the financial support ? that the SETA?s provide, it would be impossible for tertiary institutions such as UJ, to provide more work-ready students for employers.?
?We can see the positive impact of this approach, not only do students feel more confident and useful in the workplace, but employers too, place a great value on more work-ready employees,? concludes Dunn.
