TRAINING SUFFERING Despite demand for education, the decline in commodities prices has caused companies to decrease their training budgets
There is a need for continuous skills and training development in the mining industry, especially amid the current financial crisis, says skills and training network provider Alusani.
Although the decline in commodities prices has caused companies in the mining industry to significantly decrease their training budgets, there is still a demand for education and training in the industry.
Subsequently, Alusani has considered more novel ways of catering to the demand for training, such as not increasing its course fees over the past five years.
The company stresses the importance of employers maintaining a training budget to ensure that employees receive the necessary training should there be a turnaround in the mining industry and projects are initiated. This will also save time, as people will not have to receive additional training off site while working on projects.
Alusani notes that employees in the mining, engineering and construction industries should strive for continuous professional development (CPD). CPD courses are quality assured by several regulatory bodies such as the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), the South African Council for the Architectural Profession and the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession. Alusani offers over 30 CPD courses.
As a result of many unethical training providers operating in South Africa, Alusani Skills & Training Network managing member Imogen Tarita strongly advises that anyone wanting to attend a training course should do research and ensure that the course has the necessary accreditations. She also notes that it is important for individuals to consider registering for courses that offer multiple accreditation.
Tarita explains that, in the mining industry, individuals are predominantly geared towards choosing courses accredited by the SACPCMP and ECSA. “More people from the mining industry are enrolling for our courses as private individuals, paying for themselves because they realise they have to keep up their accreditation if they want to retain their jobs in the mining industry following the mining downturn.”
According to Alusani, the company’s International Federation of Consulting Engineers (Fidic) contract training course, remains popular among construction and mining professionals. Fidic, which represents the consulting engineering industry globally and domestically, publishes a set of contracts that is frequently used by the industry.
The course is facilitated by Coen Snyman, one of only two accredited Fidic trainers and affiliate members based in South Africa. Snyman has assisted both employer and contractor organisations in the South African mining, infrastructure development and construction industries, with contract negotiations, procurement, claims management and disputes.
This course offers a complete and up-to-date overview of all the contracts making up the Fidic suite of contracts and learners are expected to leave with a “solid understanding” and comprehension of how to use, apply and administer Fidic contracts. The next course will be presented in Johannesburg next month.
Tarita explains that Fidic contracts are generally used for capital expansion projects or plant upgrades by the mining industry. In the case of mining projects, Fidic enables the contractor, rather than the employer, to take responsibility for the design of the work, which is then executed at a lump sum price. Tarita notes that such an approach is often preferable, especially if the employer does not have the necessary design capacity and skills in-house.
“Fidic contracts have robust and comprehensive provisions to test the sufficiency of the works, which is vital when it comes to the acceptance of facilities like process plants,” she says.
In addition, Alusani offers post-course support that allows for course leaders to be contacted and follow-up questions to be asked. Individuals who have completed the course also receive updates every month through email. For example, over the next couple of months, there will be amendments to the Fidic documents and participants who completed the course will receive these updates.
Alusani also provides webinars to previous participants, providing additional information as part of its post-course support.