April 2010

Compuscan Academy attended the Skills and Training Summit at the CSIR Convention Centre in Pretoria on 9 – 10 March 2010. Megan Brooks, Training and Sales Coordinator and Andre Olivier, Skills Development Specialist attended the event on behalf of Compuscan Academy. Overall, the Skills and Training Summit was a great success and we will be sure to attend it again in the future!

This year The Skills and Training Summit was endorsed by Business Unity South Africa and the South African Board of People Practice. It attracted individuals and companies with an interest in skills and training.

These included:

• Company executives, professional associates, members of industry skills councils and advisory boards, employers, unionists, human resource specialists
• Tertiary sector professionals and practitioners – public and private training providers from institutions and universities
• Senior executives, managers, planners, human resource personnel
• Teachers, trainers and lecturers
• Leading researchers and consultants
• Government officials
• Employment service providers
• Community representatives and students

From the unprecedented interest of such a diverse range of delegates, it was a resounding success. Numerous training providers exhibited their products and services. Compuscan Academy’s niche area in credit and micro-finance was unique and kept the exhibition stand busy. Most of the attendees were interested in the generic training programmes that Compuscan Academy offers such as Financial Health, SME Development and Debt Counselling Workshops.

Delegates came from all over the country to share experiences and seek solutions to the nation’s critical lack of skills.

During the Summit, the following topics were addressed at the plenary sessions:

• The newly launched QCTO
• Lack of Skills as a Major Challenge to the Economic growth of our Country
• Public Private Partnerships to Accelerate ICT Skills Development in South Africa
• Quality Assuring South Africa's Education
• The newly formed INTERSETA
• The new higher education qualification framework and its impact on skills development
• BEE and Maximising on Skills Development programmes
• ABET: The blockage to skills training
• Need for reliable data for informed decision-making on the skills gap
• The Graduate Placement project - unemployed graduates with qualifications but not the necessary skills required by industries
• ROI of the Anglo American management development programme at Gordon Institute of Business Management
• Apprenticeships
• Professional Recognition & Development for Skills Development Practitioners

Incorporated into the Skills and Training Summit was The Achiever Awards Dinner which was held on the end of the first day. We would like to congratulate the winners of companies, government departments and organisations who have implemented effective and relevant skills development and training programmes for their employees.

In the year ahead, we will keep you updated on the creativity and innovation that Compuscan Academy has shown to bring about a positive change. Compuscan Academy is committed to continued professional development and skills training as a key requirement in the attainment of sustained and positive growth in SA to eradicate poverty and employment.

If you require more information about this event, please visit their website at www.skillssummit.co.za. contact us on +27 21 888 6000, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.compuscanacademy.co.za.