Short, action-packed
workshops planned
DIPLOMAS WHICH prove that the candidate has attained 100% in a subject are not always the answer to today's business demands, nor are lecture-based training sessions, says Hester Hibbert.
Along with Tandy Gruenbaum, she has established Corporate Diagnostics and Solutions (CDS), a training company which will open in Benoni on January 4 with a different aim: to help those in the workplace to gain greater knowledge for use in their working task.
Both have full customs and excise training and human resource development expertise. Hibbert has been with South African Revenue Services (SARS) for nine years. Gruenbaum served seven years in the same organisation before moving
to Skills Development Specialists in Durban, where she leaves at end December to move into the Benoni venture.
We've been customs officers for a total of 16 years and we felt that there was a need for a new concept in training individuals to handle matters in that direction, says Hibbert.
There is a need to make improvements in the workplace, but at the same time we feel it is necessary to approach the subject with the view that we are dealing with adults. They don't need spoon-feeding.
At the same time lecture based training is out. What we will use is simple facilitation skills, with the focus on getting the learning process to turn into reality. We won't be examination focused. After all, we find employers looking at a diploma and saying 'so what?'. The holder of the certificate has text book knowledge but lacks on the spot training experience.
The CDS course directory is being designed at present, with the longest course lasting five days. Before starting out the candidate is assessed with further assessment carried out on completion, to be followed up by a further assessment of how he or she is fitting into the workplace with the knowledge gained.
CDS will also undertake the training of trainers, have a hot line available for students to get the answers to any queries, and also provide an employment opportunity operation where suitable skills will be matched on a data base to provide the right person for the job available.
We are passionately dedicated to improving performance, says Hibbert.
But we see it as having students attend shorter, action-packed workshops, where all aspects of trade dealings, especially items such as rules of origin and customs matters, are clarified.
CDS will apply at end January for accreditation to the Education Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) body.
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