A workshop for experienced media practitioners, trainers or potential from the African continent hosted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation which offers a practical learning opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills for training others on formal or on-the-job training.

AIBD Offers Workshop in South Africa
By
Prof Drew McDaniel,Consultant

For the first time in its history AIBD presented a training activity hosted by South African Broadcasting Corporation. The SABC is an Associate Member of AIBD. The Sub-Regional workshop on Training of Trainers was presented in Johannesburg from July 21 to August 1, 2008, with 12 participants from across Africa’s southern tier of nations in attendance. In addition to eight SABC staff members, there were representatives from broadcasting organizations in Angola, Mauritius, Swaziland, and Zambia. All those taking part in the workshop had been actively working as trainers for at least a part of their daily work assignment. Professor Drew McDaniel of Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA served as resource person for the workshop.

The nature of learning among adults was emphasized in the first days of the workshop after which followed presentations on training design and planning. The second week emphasized technical aspects of training such as instructional techniques and the transfer of learning to long-term memory. As in other AIBD training of trainers courses, the workshop was based upon the Training by Objectives model which sets out carefully crafted measurable goals for training. The goals are specifically devised to overcome performance deficiencies in the workplace.

The training of trainers activity was focused on both on-the-job training as well as formal training programmes such as workshops and courses. The design, plan, and conduct of training activities were laid out over the course of the two-week event. Participants were given techniques for instruction in their professional specializations, whatever that might be. As usual, the course relied heavily on practical exercises and case studies, and topics ranged from training evaluation to theories of learning and instruction.

SABC has undergone restructuring recently and training plays a major role in reshaping the organization. This workshop paid particular attention to the organization’s requirements for training as revealed through a rapid training needs assessment exercise conducted during the first week of the course.

The workshop stressed the importance of training as a support for the strategic aims of media organizations, but also it acknowledged the unique features of South Africa’s national human resource needs. South Africa has a highly developed plan for human resource development, and professional training is included as part of an ambitious plan for nationwide certification and skills development. The details of this system and its enabling legal framework were the subject of a presentation near the conclusion of the workshop by Khalil-Ahmed Patel, Training Manager PBS-TV for SABC, who participated in the workshop.

In remarks at the workshop’s closing ceremony Phillip Molefe, SABC Head of International Affairs, voiced his organization’s pleasure at hosting the activity, and noted his support for further collaboration with AIBD. He also indicated that he would encourage other members of the South African Broadcasters Association to join in cooperating with AIBD.

Last updated 17.09.08 23:41 by Manil