Announcing the 17th PSTF Conference, 24 – 26 November 2014, CSIR, Pretoria
Delegate registrations for the 17th PSTF are now open.
1. Background
The National School of Government (former PALAMA) will host the 17th Annual Public Trainers’ Forum, which will take place from 24 to 26 November 2014 at the CSIR. The Public Sector Trainers’ Forum (PSTF) was established in 1997 as a non-statutory body to advocate Human Resource Development (HRD) within the Public Sector. The Forum provides a platform for collaborative interaction towards improved relationships and organisational performance. Thus, the forum has as its key stakeholders government departments at national, provincial and local spheres; public sector entities, councils and agencies; and social partners.
The PSTF strives to achieve the following HRD related objectives within the public sector:
- Advance the development and growth of HRD practitioners;
- Contribute to the awareness and adoption of quality standards;
- Create a platform for discussion, implementation and possible reviews of policy frameworks
- Foster partnerships with stakeholders to improve HRD practices.
The PSTF is managed by the National School of Government (NSG) in the context of its constitutional and legislative mandate to provide training and develop the capacity of public sector officials. The Principal of the NSG is the primary sponsor of the PSTF. An Advisory Committee comprising representatives from each Province; National Departments; Clusters of government; the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA); the South African Local Government Association (SALGA); and organised labour (through the Public Sector Coordinating Bargaining Council) oversees the work of the PSTF.
2. Conference theme
The theme of this year’s conference is: “Building capacity for higher productivity in the Public Sector”.
The National School of Government, launched on 21 October 2013, aims to foster a culture of high productivity in the public sector by ensuring that public servants are trained to serve the citizens of South Africa better. Along the same line, in his inaugural speech for the new government, the President of the Republic of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma stated that: “We will promote productivity within the public sector and ensure much tighter accountability, with firm consequences where there is a failure to deliver services to our people” (President Zuma1, 24 May 2014).
More than ever before, the public sector is being called upon by all South Africans to improve its productivity levels aimed at delivering quality services. Some of the essential factors required to increase productivity in the public sector are capacity development programmes designed for public servants as well as workplace conditions created for the application and practice of the skills acquired through such interventions.
In the main, a conducive workplace environment depends on sound leadership and institutional mechanisms to identify, develop and retain talent. The National Development Plan (2012) calls for the public sector to develop a clear vision of where the next generation of public servants will come from. Career pathing and youth development are therefore key in all HRD practices in the public sector.
3. Conference objectives
Building on the theme of productivity, this year’s conference seeks to stimulate reflections on:
a) Perspectives of productivity in the public sector.
b) Strategies and programmes for the achievement of higher productivity in the public sector,
c) Partnerships among sectors, institutions, and departments for the achievement of higher productivity in the public sector,
d) Implementation and coordination challenges and opportunities of HRD in the public sector.
4. Call for papers
The Secretariat hereby invites papers and presentations (in the form of case studies, research reports, conceptual papers, or exemplars) for the 17th PSTF Conference from human resource development (HRD) / education, training and development (ETD) practitioners, managers, academics, business and researchers on the following focus areas:
Focus Area 1: Leadership for improved productivity in the public sector
Focus Area 2: Impact-directed Human Resource Development
Focus Area 3: Global trends in Human Resource Development
Departments and organisations earmarked to discuss implementation and best practices of policies, among others, include:
- The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), with a focus on the production of professionals in South Africa.
- The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), with a focus on mainstreaming productivity in the public service.
- Department of Labour (DoL), with a focus on the state of productivity in the public sector.
Abstracts for papers or presentations must be submitted in MSWord (± 500 words) to the Head of the Secretariat, Dr Thami Shezi, at thami.shezi@palama.gov.za (012 441 6849) on or before 30 October 2014. Further guidance can be obtained from the Secretariat regarding the length and format of final papers and presentations.
5. Participants’ profile
This conference would be of immense value and learning to:
- HRD/ETD specialists (managers, practitioners, organisational development specialists, skills developers, trainers, independent training contractors, co-ordinators, and administrators)
- Members of organised labour
- Industry leaders from different sectors
- Academics and researchers in HRD/ETD, public sector leadership, and public administration
- Students in the fields of HRD/ETD and Public Administration
6. Conference booking and registration
An investment of R3275.00 is payable per delegate for all three days. This conference is pre-paid. All delegates should have paid the conference fee or submitted a valid purchase order or proof of payment on or before 10 November 2014.
Delegates are advised to make bookings at the earliest through the NSG Contact Centre on 012 441 6777/6617/6131/6167/6168 or pstf@thensg.gov.za.
Please visit the NSG website www.thensg.gov.za to request a quote. Registration Forms may also be obtained from:
(i) The Secretariat at NSG, or
(ii) HRD Coordinator from the department/province.
7. Exhibitions
Interested companies are invited to exhibit their services and products at the PSTF Conference. For price quotations please contact Ms Malebo Tau, at Malebo.tau@thensg.gov.za or 012 441 6624.
