Training for professionals

PROJECT management is being taught at the University of Namibia (Unam) for managers who already work.

The department of Continuing Education at the Centre for External Studies tailored the course to suit the needs of managers in the private and public sectors alike. “People came to us.Many managers are not qualified for the position they are holding.The Department of Continuing Education is providing training courses for such needs,” says the Head of Continuing Education, Dr Trudie Frindt.The topics of the courses vary: the previous course was about warehouse stock control, the next one will teach strategic planning.The current programme is being attended by 40 managers from different professional fields: there are people from banks, the national theatre and various small businesses, as well as engineering contractors.There are also seven managers from the Ministry of Health and Social Services who have disabilities.”For a deaf person we have an interpreter and for the blind we have other arrangements.But they don’t need a totally new setup.I think it is time to provide training for them.The disabled should be seen as a part of society, why should they be excluded?” Frindt says.”The other thing that I would like to point out is that we can offer any training that is needed.There’s no need to go overseas to look for it, to wait for South African consultants to come and provide it for us, and then take the money abroad.That is nonsense.We can do it ourselves.”There are only two people working in the department.When they are asked to put together a course, they find the most suitable lecturers at the university to present the course.Sometimes external experts are invited to give lectures.Usually, courses offered by the Department of Continuing Education only last a few days, but it introduced six-month certificate courses this year.Recently, some companies have asked the department to tailor training programmes specifically for their employees.In this case, the employer usually pays the course fees, although some students pay their own way.The costs vary depending on the lecturers’ wages, the teaching material used and whether the company wishes food to be served.”The Department of Continuing Education is an income-generating department,” Frindt says.”Our aim is to bring some money into the university, but quality training always comes first.””People came to us.Many managers are not qualified for the position they are holding.The Department of Continuing Education is providing training courses for such needs,” says the Head of Continuing Education, Dr Trudie Frindt.The topics of the courses vary: the previous course was about warehouse stock control, the next one will teach strategic planning.The current programme is being attended by 40 managers from different professional fields: there are people from banks, the national theatre and various small businesses, as well as engineering contractors.There are also seven managers from the Ministry of Health and Social Services who have disabilities.”For a deaf person we have an interpreter and for the blind we have other arrangements.But they don’t need a totally new setup.I think it is time to provide training for them.The disabled should be seen as a part of society, why should they be excluded?” Frindt says.”The other thing that I would like to point out is that we can offer any training that is needed.There’s no need to go overseas to look for it, to wait for South African consultants to come and provide it for us, and then take the money abroad.That is nonsense.We can do it ourselves.”There are only two people working in the department.When they are asked to put together a course, they find the most suitable lecturers at the university to present the course.Sometimes external experts are invited to give lectures.Usually, courses offered by the Department of Continuing Education only last a few days, but it introduced six-month certificate courses this year.Recently, some companies have asked the department to tailor training programmes specifically for their employees.In this case, the employer usually pays the course fees, although some students pay their own way.The costs vary depending on the lecturers’ wages, the teaching material used and whether the company wishes food to be served.”The Department of Continuing Education is an income-generating department,” Frindt says.”Our aim is to bring some money into the university, but quality training always comes first.”