University of Witwatersrand invests in skills development
05-AUG-09
Committed to skills development, the University of the Witwatersrand has announced it will invest R1.4 million over the next year towards the further development of its financial staff through the Association of Accounting Technicians AAT(SA).
This drive is to assist the institution in maintaining and improving operational efficiency, whilst also forming part of a broader talent management strategy.
Guided by the University’s Staff Development Policy, employees in the financial department have been identified as key drivers in the effective running of the University and will in turn receive further training in order to improve their skills.
Irrespective of the nature or business of an organisation, staff development is the crux of both survival and competitiveness. This stance is even more vital in an organisation that produces and transfers “knowledge” as part of its reason for existence.
As a learning organisation, universities understand the importance of skills development. While many universities primary focus is on providing a learning culture for their students, the University of the Witwatersrand understands that it is also vitally important to educate staff and improve skills internally.
“The University of the Witwatersrand recognises that financial administrators provide a vital function in ensuring that university operations can take place efficiently and effectively. In recent years, universities around the world have grappled with issues relating to staff turnover, and the need to expand the pool of available professional skills in order to remain competitive and credible,” says Chantelle Murray, Deputy Director & Skills Development Facilitator for the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development (CLTD) at the University of the Witwatersrand.
“The University has opted to support its financial administrators in their development by facilitating access to the learning pathway offered by the Association for Accounting Technicians of South Africa [AAT(SA)],” says Murray.
AAT(SA) is a professional body dedicated to learning, development, regulation and support for accounting technicians. It offers qualifications designed to enhance the skills of those who operate, maintain and improve systems to record, plan, monitor and report on the financial activities of an organisation.
Through AAT(SA) relevant, practical and highly regarded qualifications become available to “accounting technicians”, in essence individuals who operate within financial and accounting environments and/or perform financial as well as accounting tasks at levels equivalent to NQF Levels 3-5.
Murray adds that more often than not, these individuals are the “nerve centre” of an organisation and therefore, their development is ignored or neglected at great risk to the sustainability and advancement of the broader institution.
“The fact that the AAT(SA) offerings are endorsed by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), and the AAT(SA) study pathway (culminating in the Diploma) is registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), provides further evidence of its perceived and real worth,” Murray adds.
“In an era in which the need for solid accounting skills features on every Scarce and Critical Skills survey and report, there is no doubt that the AAT(SA) offerings come at the right time.”
The Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development (CLTD) at the University takes care of staff development needs – both for academic and support staff. “Naturally, there are still many areas where we can improve on the content and impact of our staff development. However, as a continuous “work in progress” we strive to improve with each passing year,” says Murray.
While skills development initiatives are often focused on the management level, Chantyl Mulder, Director of AAT(SA) explains that this certification is specifically targeted at accounting technicians – those who work with data and figures at the coal face.
“The reality is that you cannot rely on senior management to make all the changes. Those individuals working at subordinate levels must have the right skills and competence to deliver accurate and timely information on which management can act.”
The AAT(SA) programmes will be used for the development of staff who fulfil accounting functions as part of their job. This covers a range of specific job functions such as Finance Managers, School Administrative Managers, Bookkeepers, Buyers and Administrative Assistants.
The actual roll-out of the AAT(SA) courses at Wits will be facilitated by Regenesys Management (Pty) Ltd. Regenesys Business School is a nationally accredited provider of training and development, and approved by the international AAT quality assurance body for the delivery of AAT qualifications.
Contact sessions will be facilitated on-site at the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development at Wits, and classes will typically take place every month.
All of the staff who have enrolled with AAT(SA) are currently going through a process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to determine their entry-level for the course. The first roll-out will start as from August 2009.
Mulder commends the 73 staff members who have enrolled in the AAT(SA) programme and supports their desire to grow.
“Accounting technicians are the backbone of any business structure. The commitment shown by the 73 staff members highlights the dire need for skills development in South Africa, especially in the finance sector,” says Mulder.
Furthermore AAT(SA) recently achieved Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) compliance from the Financial Services Board (FSB). This means the FSB now recognises the qualification as a generic qualification against a number of categories.
As such banks and other institutions that need to meet certain competence levels in terms of the FAIS legislation may now also use the AAT(SA) qualification towards this objective.
For more information on AAT(SA) call 011 621 6888 or visit AAT(SA)
