Stakeholder Information Session Feedback and Update

Feedback from July 2012 Session Issues raised – Skills Planning – Discretionary Grants – Stakeholder Consultation – Customer Service and Communication Action plan has been put in place to address the issues.

Action Plan Skills Planning – Challenge: Quality of information in SSP – Interventions: FP&M sector to commit to skills development “for competitiveness” Utilization of additional data sources Development of reliable baseline data Enhancement of SETA Research Capacity – Progress: SSP Sub-sector discussions re industry strategies (e.g. 6Ps) OFO scoping workshops

Action Plan Skills Planning – Progress: SSP (continued) SSP consultation workshops and focus group discussions Sourcing of additional research data (from research institutions and employer/labour organisations) Fund allocation for detailed baseline study project Staff capacity building (knowledge transfer and mentoring) conducted by Specialist Research Consultant contracted to assist with the 2013/14 SSP Update

Action Plan Skills Planning – Challenge: Onerous WSP/ATR submission process – Interventions: Review of template and submission process Staff capacity building WSP/ATR dispute mechanism Promotion of WSP/ATR submission in the sector Capacity building of SDFs Detailed analytical reports

Action Plan Progress: WSP/ATR New Grant Regulations being addressed during Information Sessions and through the FP&M SETA newsletter and website. WSP/ATR template reviewed and streamlined for 2013/14 submissions Revised mandatory grant policy and procedures aligned to new Grant Regulations underway Capacity building workshops planned for April 2013 Staff exposed to industry processes and conditions through factory visits to printing, packaging, pulp and paper mills. More visits in pipeline to other industries.

Action Plan Discretionary Grants (DG) – Challenge: Equitable distribution of DGs – Interventions: Revised DG allocation strategy Promotion of DGs Enhanced monitoring & evaluation of DG projects – Progress: DGs DG workshops held in Aug ’12 & Jan ‘13 Newsletters and adverts placed, website updated 2012/13 DG application process completed

Action Plan Discretionary Grants (DG) – Progress: DGs (continued) 2012/13 DG implementation process underway Monitoring and evaluation of previous years’ allocations underway as part of tranche payment conditions Progress against predetermined objectives reported in Quarterly Reports to DHET.

Action Plan Stakeholder consultation & benchmarking – Challenge: Failure to utilise industry expertise – Interventions: Involvement of industry experts in initiatives e.g. SSP, qualifications development, OFO scoping Establishment of Communities of Expert Practice – Progress: Consulted with Industry Experts on issues such as SSP, OFO scoping (all sub-sectors), qualifications development Communities of Expert Practice established in certain sectors for qualifications development.

Action Plan Stakeholder consultation & benchmarking – Challenge: Lack of local and international bench- marking initiatives – Interventions: Development of a benchmarking strategy. – Progress: Sub-sector specific industry strategy discussions facilitated in certain sectors

Action Plan Customer Service & Communication – Challenge: Poor Stakeholder Communication – Interventions Review of stakeholder communication strategy Establishment of central complaints handling system Staff capacity building on customer service and communication. – Progress Stakeholder communication strategy implemented including Stakeholder Database of more than 1800 contacts. Complaints system still under development (linked to MIS) Interventions implemented to raise awareness on principles of good customer service.

Latest Developments Process analysis project to inform the SETA QMS and MIS underway Alignment of SETA systems to New Grant Regulations Drive for closer collaboration with FET Colleges Drive for placement of graduates (with a bias towards FETs) and unemployed learners Appointment of CEO Relocation of JHB and CT Offices

Thank You Questions