Towards a Knowledge-based Economy in South Africa
By
Albert Cruywagen of
quantumiii - recognising the ground breaking work
of L. Thurow
The current global economic transformation is often misleadingly described as
the information revolution or as a transition into an information era or
society. It is however far more.
Information by itself, albeit cheaper or speedier, is not of much value.
There are many new inputs used to build a different economy with very different
products and services. We are essentially builders of a new knowledge-based
economy.
Fundamentally the question is: How does one use knowledge to build wealth and
prosperity for individuals, companies and for a society? The answer lies in the
correct mix of social organisation, entrepreneurship, knowledge creation,
skills, tools and natural and environmental resources. An essential element of
the new knowledge-based economy is skilled people.
quantumiii sharply focuses on the issue of skilled people. Skilled people
who are needed to discover new knowledge, invent new processes and products,
staff the necessary production processes, ensure adequate maintenance of
equipment and even to use the new processes and products that advances in
knowledge permit.
In the future, knowledge will be replacing natural resources as the key
ingredient in the third industrial revolution. The value of human resources will
rise and the value of natural resources will fall. It is interesting to note
that just as socialism and communism were dying, technology was elevating humans
to a more central position in the framework of capitalism. Capitalism was forced
to put human skills and knowledge, rather than machinery, at the heart of the
system.
Surviving in the twenty-first century will require intensive attention to
issues such as higher and faster changing skills, skills acquisition in a world
without lifetime careers and, skills at the lower levels of the workforce.
Whilst the nature of demands on the workforce and therefore also the nature
of demands on qualifications and skills are shaped by deep changes globally,
South Africa will have to employ drastic measures in attempting not to fall so
far behind that even trying to keep up becomes an exercise in futility and that
competitiveness is lost forever.
On a daily basis, employers in South Africa must make tough decisions in the
face of these pressing circumstances. To ensure that these decisions are made in
the best interests of business, education, labour, government and the community,
local stakeholders should continuously be building alliances.
An alliance could be defined as a system by which there is a shared
responsibility between industry, education, labour, government, and the
community to develop human resources. The activities of any alliance must yield
benefits to all participating members. A successful alliance will:
- Continuously update, improve, and customize industry-based competencies.
- Develop curricula, course content, and programs.
- Use instructional materials that support a customized set of industry-based
competencies.
- Provide for workplace experiences for learners.
- Provide for development activities for people involved in training and
development.
- Link intermediate, secondary, and postsecondary as well as vocational
training institutions.
- Share financial, capital, and human resources.
- Monitor employment, occupational trends, and other regional trends.
- Provide public relations, outreach, and career guidance.
- Communicate about events, activities, and findings.
To have any measure of success alliance stakeholders will have to share the
responsibility. In this respect roles will have to be defined keeping the
following in mind:
Role of Business and Industry
· Identify competency requirements for the workplace.
· Identify business and employment trends.
· Provide financial, capital and human resources.
· Provide workplace experiences for trainers and learners.
· Encourage employees to participate in alliance activities.
· Provide public awareness programs.
· Participate in career guidance activities.
· Provide scholarships.
Role of Labour
· Participate in the process of identifying and validating industry-based
competencies.
· Actively promote continuing education for workers.
· Ensure that current workers have access to education and development
opportunities.
· Participate in certification initiatives.?
Role of Education and T&D
· Build courses, curricula, and programs.
· Articulate with other educational institutions.
· Encourage trainers and learners to take advantage of workplace experiences,
co-ops, and internships.
· Provide financial, capital, and human resources.
· Ensure that learners have well-rounded educational experience to support
their technical skills and knowledge.
· Provide flexible schedules for current workers.
Role of Government
· Endorse processes to identify and validate industry-based competencies.
· Establish portfolio, certification, and credentialing frameworks.
· Establish and monitor safety/health and environment data.
· Provide for a seamless link between secondary and postsecondary education.
Role of the Community
· Coordinate public outreach activities such as career days.
· Participate in state academic and skill standards initiatives.
· Encourage participation in faculty development opportunities.
quantumiii's involvement in the qualification, skills, training and
development areas underlines our commitment to setting industry standards.
quantumiii
will assist you in better understanding the challenges that lie ahead.
Please contact us.
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