According to Errol Peace, the chairman of The Board of Governors of the SA Institute of Security (SAIS), the latter has, during a recent meeting in November 2012, decided to launch a Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD) for its members. This came as a result of the new legislation passed by Parliament, and facilitated by SAQA, to professionalise the various industries in South Africa. A CPD programme will also contribute to lay a foundation for the establishment of a professional body for the security industry in the future.
The CPD programme, according to Peace, will significantly expand the offering of the Institute to its members. Members can now look forward to a new approach with the Institute’s seminar programme. The primary focus of the seminar programme as well as other activities on offer will be to expose members to thinking and experience of experts and technology, designed to expand their knowledge and skills through informing them of the latest developments and trends. The annual seminar programme will be packed with interesting topics that will develop members’ competitiveness within the Security Industry. SAIS will also endeavour to co-operate and co-ordinate and with other academic institutions offering security and management relevant educational programmes or events to open it for SAIS members to attend, thereby widening the scope of credit bearing activities.
Although the first lunch seminar is scheduled only for 15th February 2013, members of the Institute will be encouraged to start collecting and registering credits from January 2013. The topic for the first lunch seminar will be announced soon. Details on how to participate in the programme has already been distributed to members. Non-members interested, are also welcome to apply /register to attend CPD activities – although at a slightly higher rate.
Some of the other activities planned for the CPD programme include providing members with book reviews and references to 'must have' literature needed to expand their knowledge of security. The Institute also plans the publication of an Institute Bulletin with relevant articles/papers delivered by experts. It is also planned to expand our Institute’s library so that it can be easier accessed and utilised for research by members. Details of this will be communicated to members early in 2013.
The Institute strives to improve its role as an educator/developer of its members’ skills and knowledge, and it is envisaged that after regular exposure to a CPD programme, SAIS members will perform on a higher level of professionalism – and needless to say, companies will benefit directly by better performance of their employees. Specifically, companies striving for compliance to ISO standards will automatically benefit by better individual performance of employees.
Readers (including non-members) interested in attending SAIS CPD activities are welcome to contact Rosemary Cowan at [email protected] or 086 111 1418 or visit our website at http://www.instituteofsecurity.co.za/ for more details.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.
printer friendly version