The 19th Public Sector Trainers Forum to take off in October
In 2011, the South African government adopted the National Development Plan (NDP) – Vision 2030. Chapter 13 of the NDP calls for the building of a capable and developmental state. The vision articulated in this chapter is for a well-run and effectively coordinated state institutions with skilled public servants who are committed to the public good and capable of delivering consistently high quality services while prioritising the nation’s developmental objectives.
This vision calls for professional, disciplined, loyal, and committed public servants who possess the necessary skills and competencies to do their work. In order to achieve Vision 2030, the public sector must have a strong cadre of public sector trainers and facilitators who are themselves well capacitated to be able to empower other public servants with requisite skills, competences and attributes.
The critical question is, to what extend are public service trainers/facilitators enabled to carry out this mammoth task.
The 19th PSTF Conference will take place from 16th – 18th October, Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. This conference will afford public sector trainers/ facilitators an opportunity to reflect critically on their role in the context of building a capable and developmental state. Among others, the conference will deal with the policy environment, capacity development and career pathing, existing models and systems, as well as financial and other resources needed for public sector trainers/facilitators to empower others.
It is on this basis that human resource development practitioners, managers, researchers and scholars are called upon to share knowledge and ideas on how relevant programmes, institutions, systems, and strategies can be developed within the public sector to develop human capability.
The organising committee under the guidance of the National School of Government proposed the theme for the 19th PSTF Conference to be:
“Enabling Vision 2030 through HRD”
The theme will be supported by the following sub-themes
(a) Talent management and career development strategies,
(b) Using the public sector space to develop new knowledge for the knowledge economy,
(c) HRD in the declining economy: value for money, Project supported by the European Union under the NSG's Public Service Training & Capacity Building Programme
(d) Building public sector learning organisations, and
(e) Revitalising the role of the State to produce technical skills and specialist professionals.
The conference will also confer awards to individuals, teams, departments and provinces in recognition of their contribution to human resource development since the last conference in 2015.
Call for papers
The PSTF Secretariat hereby invites papers and presentations (in the form of case studies, research reports, conceptual papers, or exemplars) for the 19th PSTF Conference from HRD practitioners, managers, academics, and researchers on focus areas contained in the sub-themes.
Abstracts for papers or presentations must be submitted in MSWord (± 500 words) to the Head of the Editorial team, Dr E Tshikwatamba, at Emmanuel.Tshikwatamba@thensg.gov.za.
Call for nominations for the PSTF achievers awards
The call for nominations for the 2017 PSTF Achievers Awards is open and the details of the categories and criteria can be found on the NSG website at www.thensg.gov.za with the application forms. The focus period for nominations in all the categories is two years (i.e. the 2016 and 17 financial years).
Participants’ profile
This conference will be of immense value to:
- ETD/HRD practitioners (trainers, organisational development specialists, skills development facilitators, training co-ordinators, and managers).
- Members of organised labour.
- SETA officials.
- Academics and researchers in HRD/ETD, public sector leaders and administrators.
- Students in the fields of HRD/ETD and Public Administration.
Conference booking and registration
Delegates are advised to make bookings at 086 100 8326 or contactcentre@thensg.gov.za. For booking enquiries, please contact Ms Teboho Khalushi at 012-441 6729 or Teboho.Khalushi@thensg.gov.za
Registration Forms may be obtained from:
(i)The NSG website at www.thensg.gov.za
(ii) A provincial academy, or
(iii) HRD coordinator from the department/province.
The 19th PSTF is supported by the European Union under the NSG's Public Service Training & Capacity Building Programme.
Payment procedure
An investment of R4 313 is payable upfront per delegate. All payment enquiries and requests for quotation should be directed to contactcentre@thensg.gov.za.
Exhibitions
(i) Organisations are invited to exhibit at the conference for all the three days. There are 20 exhibition spaces available.
(ii) The exhibition stand comes at a cost of R15 000.00 and covers the following:
- 3m X 3m branded shells scheme
- 1 X standard table, 2 X standard chairs
- Access to conference sessions for two exhibitors, meals and gala dinner
(iii) For booking of exhibitions please contact Ms Malebo Ralehlaka at Malebo.ralehlaka@thensg.gov.za /012 441 6624
Cancellations
(i) Conference Delegates: No refund on cancellation will be made. Where a delegate is unable to attend only a substitute delegate from the same department/province/ organisation will be accepted.
