ASTD Global Network S.A. is the official South African global network partner of the International American Society for Training and Development. Through exceptional Learning and Performance, we create a world that works better. Our aim is to assist H.R.D / H.R. professionals in South Africa to identify and promote awareness of best International Practices, in Training and Leadership Development and provide Annual Research on the current State of the Industry. We also conduct an annual International Conference.

Past events

• The One Day Workshops on "The Instructional Revolution" featuring Dr Spencer Kagan from the USA in March, held in Johannesburg and Cape Town, were a resounding success. The concept of Co-operative Learning will be a winner for South Africa and Africa as we engage our learners on a consistent basis through more than 200 engagement strategies developed by the Kagan Group. It has achieved amazing results in many countries. ASTD SA will be representing the Kagan technology in the future and will be offering the first "Dynamic Trainer Workshop" over 5 days (1 - 2 September and 9 - 11 November 2011) in Johannesburg and it will be conducted by Laurie Kagan from the USA. This is going to revolutionise our learning and improve ongoing results.
  
  
• Roger Collantes from Singapore presented "Facing Future Challenges: Preparing for the next Crisis and Leading your Organisation in Turbulent Times" at the conference in March. He was a dynamic plenary speaker and also did an outstanding presentation to a group of over 100 Telkom senior managers. Singapore is the no 1 country listed by the IMD Competitive Nations Report. South Africa has improved to no 44 out of 58 countries evaluated. See more info below.
• The 7th ASTD local International Conference held in Cape Town in March was a great success drawing around 200 delegates and 31 speakers of which 9 were from abroad, featuring the USA (4), UK, Singapore, Phillipines and Switzerland. Thanks to all: our sponsors (Aims South Africa, Telkom, The Ken Blanchard Group, Experiential Technologies), our exhibitors (The Human Edge, USB Excecutive Development, Results Workplace Coaching, Evolved Coaching SA, Investors in People, JVR Consulting, Maccauvlei Learning  Academy) and our delegates for your great support.
  See article attached to appear in Management To-day
• 2012 ASTD Local Conference. Join us next year 14 - 16th March 2012 for another successful conference possibly in the Drakensberg

Other and Future Events

• ASTD USA Annual Conference 22 - 25th May, Orlando, Florida. Our study group from South Africa leaves on the 18th May to visit some world class companies en route. This includes exposure to Disney's Leadership and Excellence programme, a meeting with HR/HRD SPECIALISTS at Kennedy Space Centre. This is the most prestigious global conference gathering of HRD professionals world wide. See ASTD conference programme on www.astdconference.org. (Click on Education). Over 200 speakers and 250 exhibitors will be present.
• Congratulations to Marius Meyer, the new CEO of SABPP. We wish him all the best.
  Click here to view the SABPP Newsletter. 
• Two speakers from the Ken Blanchard Company, Lael Good and Hank van der Merwe, gave a great presentation at the local ASTD Conference and spoke on "Don't mark my Paper - Help me Get an A" explaining various strategies on how to help people win at work. They emphasized issues such as Self Worth, Trust and Respect, Servant Leadership and Celebrating Success. To catch up on their presentation and experience new developments, you are invited to attend their Situational Leadership II on 27 - 29th June.
  The KAGAN Dynamic Trainer Workshop to be held in Johannesburg and South Africa for the first time is a must for any Trainer/Facilitator /Teacher and focuses on over 200 instructional strategies developed over the past 40 years. Now utilised in over 20 countries you will be able to engage learners to a level they have never experienced before and improve maximum retention. Dates for the 5-day- programme are 1 - 2 September and 9 - 11th November, 2011.
  See attached flyer and registration

How Competitive is South Africa?

The latest IMD Competitiveness Rankings of Nations Report, based on 323 criteria, places S.A. in 44th position out of 58 countries surveyed on an annual basis and high lights our country's Strengths and Weaknesses.

Management To-day

Due to various problems the monthly Magazines were recently received late. The matter has been resolved.  Our apologies.  A new change in publishers and management will provide an improved  highly efficient quality service in the future. Please let us know if you have not received the March issue by the end of April. Ten issues will be issued annually. Should you prefer the electronic version, please notify us.

SETA'S in the news.

According to the "Business Day" this week (13/04/2011) the CEO of Service SETA was suspended and escorted from his office. He challenged his replacement, Mr Sihle Moon's appointment as chairman made by Blade Nzimande, Higher Education and Training Minister, as a breach of the Skills Development Act.  The  Service Seta's council refused to sign a new constitution allowing the new appointment and also rejected Mr. Moon's appointment. Higher Education Minister, Gwebs Qonde knew nothing about the incident which still has to be resolved.

Are these just strong arm tactics or is there a case of under performance?  Since it's inception the Seta system has come under a lot of criticism and has been plagued by corruption, uneven governance, poor performance administration and financial inefficiencies. Some have mooted the scrapping of the SETA SYSTEM. The Department of Higher Education last week announced the changes that had been made to the SETA SYSTEM. The launching of Human Resources Development Council under the leadership of Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, will also set a new Seta Landscape.

The Skills Revolution is under way

The 3rd National Skills Development Strategy  (NSDS 111) follows the integration of Higher and Further Education and skills development into a single department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande announced the partnerships between employees, public education institutions (FET colleges and Universities) private training providers and Setas. This move will ensure that the integration of education and training becomes a reality. NSDS 111 will ensure increased access to training and skills development opportunities, and achieve the fundamental transformation of inequities linked to class, race, gender age and disparity in our society.  The idea is also to set up a performance monitoring system, evaluation and support system for all education, training and skills development institutions. Setas need to become recognised experts in relation to skills demand within their sector.

State of the Training and HRD Industry Report

We all are waiting on the latest State of The Industry Report which has been delayed due to internal research problems. This Report is due within the next two weeks by the 15th MAY and will be available at and can be ordered from Sandra at the SABPP Offices (011 - 773 6222 / 6238 or sandra@sabpp.co.za). This Report in future will be a joint issue between ASTD and SABPP. This Report is a must for Training and Development and HR Executives; it's the only research report which provides us with relevant information against which we can benchmark our current and future strategies

Hoping you had a great Easter weekend.

Good Things, Robin Probart and the ASTD Team