The MQA annually convene a Consultative Conference where industry leaders come together to discuss issues pertinent to the development and transformation of the Mining and Minerals Sector through skills development. The event takes place in October following the tabling of the organizations Annual Report in Parliament as required in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The presentation of the Annual Report at this event assist in reflecting on the challenges and achievements of the previous year from an operational and financial point of view and help the discussions towards improvement for the next financial year.
The conference for 2008 will intensely focus on industry challenges prior to and beyond 2010. The National Skills Development Strategy I & II saw the implementation of various programmes within the Sector. The Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) & Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) also posed more challenges for the economic industries in general and this also call for the Mining and Minerals Sector to align its strategies with the demands of such initiatives. The Sector Skills Plan clearly identifies areas where there are Critical and Scarce skills shortages within the sector. The delivery of ABET, Learnerships and Apprenticeships Programmes remain critical for the organization to. The Development of Unit Standards and Qualifications s well as Accreditation of Training Providers and support of Further Education and Training Institutions is also of equal importance as it ensures that qualifications are in line with industry requirements.
The MQA is inviting all stakeholders to participate in this all important event and help develop sustainable strategies for the improvement of skills development and training within the Sector. The theme will be Unified in promoting education, training and development at the work place, calling for industry experts to come together and discuss the skills challenges beyond 2010.
