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What's New? 26/11/2008
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NATIONAL
CERTIFICATE IN
Here you'll find info about new programmes and services, news about the STA team itself, other news about legislative changes that may affect training, and new training ideas.
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26th November 2008 The year has screamed past me, which usually means it's been a good year. I've created a new assessment process called 'Assessment by Professional Conversation' for the National Certificate in First Line Management, which will allow us to do Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) for those who feel that they already have the skills, knowledge and competency required by the National Certificate and all they need is to be able to prove it. It's also good for those who have difficulty expressing themselves fully in writing. It is not 'the easy option'. It's achieved through a combination of recorded interview during which candidates demonstrate knowledge through a guided discussion, backed up by documentary and other forms of evidence. Candidates have as much time as they want to prepare, and a full guidebook to work through so they know what they have to know, and what evidence they have to provide. I've experienced it myself and I can tell you that the prep time is all important. Another group of 30 Team Leaders at NSCC have embarked on the National Certificate - in fact they're at the end of it, and the race is on to get their assignments in by deadline to have a chance of graduating with the rest of the group. Another in-house FLM group is O-I New Zealand, which some of you will remember as ACI NZ Glass, and they're about half-way through the process and doing well. Due to the interference of Mr Cullen and the ring-fence protectionist lobby, we no longer have funding for the public version of NCFLM since Tai Poutini Polytech are no longer allowed to fund programmes outside their geographic region. What a pity that sticky fingers are allowed to ruin something worthwhile. Whether the Nats will/can repair the damage remains to be seen. HR Consultancy work has taken off as well, to the extent that the name STA Training no longer effectively describes what we do and is too limiting - so I've created a new company called 'The People Effect' which will handle all the HR consultancy work. STA remains of course, but is engaged purely in Training programme creation and provision. Check out the new company at www.thepeopleeffect.co.nz There's lots of other good stuff happening but I've run out of time and the year is yet to slow down. If I don't get back here before Xmas/New Year, best wishes to you all for 2009... Carpe Diem Steve
20th June 2008 Ok yes it has been a while.. busy busy busy. The National Certificate in First Line Management program is roaring along, the pilot program in 2006 was a nightmare (never again!) but during 2007 and this year it has really settled down into a well-received relatively smooth-flowing program. Dr Cullen and cronies couldn't keep their sticky fingers out of education funding, forcing through a policy of geographical 'ring-fencing' and protection of the mediocre, and thus the funded (public) version has had to go on hold until we sort that out. What a pity... Our relationship with Tai Poutini Polytech is winding down for the exact same reason, and not because we want it to... isn't it amazing how ignorant people with elected power can meddle with things that are working perfectly well and completely stuff things up. Still, a new Government is coming along shortly we hope. Our existing Coaching Skills one-day workshop has been upgraded and renamed 'On Job Skill Transfer' which more correctly describes what the workshop does. Deb has been refining and modernising 'ABCs of Business writing' and the new version is being well received. The re-vamped Team Leader Series (public version) has come through initial sea-trials at EMA with flying colours. Hardest part was deciding what content had to be 'pulled' in order to get Stage 3 from 3 days down into 1, and Stage 2 from 3 days down into 2. NZATD conference was worth the money, both Deb & I got lots of 'stuff' out of it from both overseas and NZ specialists, and some of that will find its way into our workshops over the next months. Right now I'm working on developing and producing 'Assessment by Professional Conversation' for the National Certificate in First Line Management. This will be an option for those who express themselves verbally better than they do in writing. No, it's not an easy option because the evidence of competence still has to be there, and being one-on-one, there's no escape... More Later Carpe Diem Steve PS: I finally got my Diploma in Adult Ed!!! Oh, to have the luxury of being a full-time student...
20th December 2007
Season's Greetings! What a whirlwind of a year - or do I say that every year? - but it really does seem to have rocketed along to December. We have been busy and absorbed with National Certificate stuff, 30 new graduates had their pic taken at a function a few weeks ago which has hopefully spurred the procrastinators out there to hurry up and complete. Here's the mug shot:
North Shore City Council graduates: NZQA National Certificate in First Line
Management.
Don't they look a happy bunch! So they should, they worked hard, well done all of you, and thank you for putting up with the teething troubles and growing pains. Two new streams have just started and they will benefit from what we learned from the so-called 'pilot' team (above) during 2006/7. The 'public' (anyone can come) versions are also doing well with our third intake starting in Feb. We have two other corporates running in-house FLM programmes currently, and another about to start in the new year.
OK, where's the Turkey gone? 2008 will see some changes to our workshops we run at EMA:
Deb & I extend our best wishes to all of our clients and course participants, for a stress-free, effective, prosperous and yes - Happy New Year. Carpe Diem, Steve
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