From Intention To ACTION

Introspection Progress & Prospects on Skills Development within Sector

Education & Training Research & Development ASGISA & JIPSA initiatives Human Resources Brain Drain Retention Strategies Focus Areas

Progress u DWAF to promote industry (like this workshop) u Tertiary Institutions (Sector Associated) u Various Institutions are working together - Synergy u curricula more relevant u Introduced short business course u Safety u Management u Careers Fairs by Dept of Water Affair u Alignment of training material to NQF & Unit Standards u Outreach programs to communities close to Forestry u Opportunities to embrace National Vocational Certificate –encourage learners to join Sector Education Programs from Grade 10

Prospects / Opportunities u QA of Providers – some not capable u Learnerships / Unit Standards in some areas are not relevant or adds value to business e.g. Lumber Mill u Awareness & sensitization from pre-school to learners on Forestry Sector (care of trees etc.) u Gap in general understanding on:- u Skills Development u Training u Education u Clear, visibly and action orientated Training & Development Strategy u DWAF to review their T&D Strategy to meet requirements of Forestry Charter u National Vocational Certificate process is not fully leveraged in Sector

Prospects / Opportunities u Quantum leap in education standards from Grade 12 to 1 st year tertiary education u Gap needs to be bridged u Student Work Experience Programs (SWEP) u Arranging experiential exposure for learners at schools into our Sector from Grade 9 so that they can make an informed career choice u Selection of learners into our Sector because they have the academic ability & passion to remain in this Sector and not leave after a couple of years u Using current experienced personnel in Sector to coach & mentor new entrants into our industry u National R&D Strategy as none exists u Synergy between Research Institutions & Training in Sector to also be forward looking for innovation including Social Research

Prospects / Opportunities u ETQA Process need to needs be ‘jacked up” – too many ‘Fly by Nights Providers” u Investigate Corporate Social Investment (CSI) opportunities for Tertiary Institutions – Sector & business to should partner to ensure education programs are sustainable u Current Research studies / projects / thesis not transparent (some subjects get researched repeatedly (lack of a Project database) –re- invention u Unification of various government bodies to “sing off the same hymn sheet” regarding Sector u DTI, DWAF, Land Affairs, Environmental Affairs u Include downstream benefactories u DTI should also participate in DWAF Skills Development Workshops

Prospects / Opportunities u Gap in Certification Processes with Providers post POE submission – learners still waiting for formal recognition u There appears to be no deliberate mechanisms in place in Sector to also meet NSDS targets for 2010 u Sector to initiate synergy between Employers (Business) and Tertiary Institutions u Sector to influence Tertiary Institutions to gain an understanding of the Values Chain in Businesses associated within Sector u Sector to also be involved in a coordinated efforts to improve Mathematics & Science from school level u Conflict of Government Policies for End Users – practical solution / application

HR Issues to address Brain Drain u Focus on Employee branding – Employee Value Proposition to attract talent u Identify critical & scarce skills and ensure remuneration is market competitive u T&D – more opportunities in training in skills development as opposed to Legal Compliance training u Visual Career Paths & Succession Planning u Career Coaching u Mentorship u Flexible Fringe Benefits to embrace the various requirements of age groups u Leaner Organisation structures to remove hierarchies and ‘red tape” (largely government) u Optimize the Exit & Stay Interviews to be value adding

HR Issues to address Brain Drain u Dual Career paths to embrace both management & technical specialists streams u Encourage creativity & innovation u Remove practices that promote conformity which restricts new ideas u Visionary Leadership u Scarcity Allowances for skills that are critical to Sector u Performance Management Process that promotes employee “Engagement”