Transport industry addresses skills deficits

THE TRANSPORT sector has been actively focusing on adult basic education & training (ABET), communication, and interpersonal and managerial skills, all of which were identified as weak areas in the 2000/2001 sector skills plan, according to Melanie Harvard, national qualifications framework (NQF) advisor at Dyna Training. “But the task of raising these skills deficits, and making learning within the sector more effective and productive, is a mammoth one,” Harvard told FTW. In addressing this task, Dyna has not missed out on the important element of NQF, and Harvard stressed that it’s a vital part of its industry-driven training programme. “As many human resources (HR) teams know, it can be very difficult to find a training provider which combines service levels with NQF alignment. “We not only do this, but take things one step further by actively helping companies to apply the framework within the workplace.” As early as 1998, the company was providing free NQF booklets, guides and advice to all customers. This has now grown into a value-adding NQF section on its website (http://www/dyna-training.co.za) and the creation of a dedicated NQF research and client support department. The company is also no newcomer to the transport/freight industry. Dyna Training has been active in the sector for a considerable period of its 26-year-old history Ð with such names as the Access Group, Röhlig-Grindrod, P & O Ports, Spoornet, Petronet and Safcor Panalpina (incorporating Renfreight) on its customer list.