With the rise of remote work, technological advancements, and shifting industry demands, the question arises: can companies still tailor their training programs to meet specific organizational needs?
Yes, most definitely.
Companies that value training are no longer interested in one-size-fits-all training. They want customised programmes that are designed to address their unique needs.
This creates tension between customisation and standardisation, for standardisation is the central feature of NQF-registered unit standards and qualifications. If the client still wants the programme to be accredited, the best way to customise the programme is to contextualise it in such a way that learners demonstrate the outcomes within the specific work context of the organisation.
Another option is to include outcomes additional to those that are taken from the unit standards to address client-specific needs. However, sometimes clients want to exclude parts of the accredited programme that is aligned to unit standards.
As it cannot be disputed that training providers should deliver programmes that address their client's needs, it is obvious that such programmes should be redesigned, even if this means that the revised programme no longer covers all the outcomes of the unit standards.
What is important is that the client must clearly understand that the customised programme is then not accredited and that learners will not be able to achieve credits for the unit standards that have been excluded from the accredited programme.
However, there is no reason why this programme cannot be included in the WSP. The same applies to the situation where clients do not want learners to be assessed.
Even though assessment is a key requirement of an accredited programme, it is still the prerogative of clients to exclude the assessment, but then they must understand that that particular programme is not accredited.
