The MQA annually convene a Consultative Conference where industry leaders come together to discuss issues pertinent to the development and transformation of the Mining & 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 drive the discussions towards improvement for the next financial year.
The conference for 2007 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 for SouthAfrica (ASGISA) & Joint Initiative Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) initiatives also posed more challenges for economic industries in general and this also call for the Mining and Minerals sector to align it’s strategies with the demands of such initiatives. The Sector Skills Plan clearly identifies areas where there are Critical & Scarce skills shortages within the sector. The delivery of ABET and Learnerships and Apprenticeship Programmes remain critical for the organization. The development of Unit Standards and Qualifications as well as Accreditation of suitable Training Providers and support of Further Education and Training Institutions is also of equal importance as it ensures that qualifications are in line with the industry requirements.
The MQA is therefore 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 event theme will be “Collectively Solving the Skills Development Enigma” calling for all industry experts to come together and discuss the skills challenges beyond 2010.
