Leadership Initiative
Research Findings
Research Findings
Research reports on the issues and challenges related to skills shortages, human resources, education, training, capacity development and transformation in the environmental sector.
Biodiversity Information Management Consultation
A short report which summarises key capacity issues in this critical sub-sector, and decisions taken about addressing them, at the national Biodiversity Information Management Forum held in Cape Town in June 2009.
Vocational and Further Education and Training in SA: Quality Considerations for Environmental Learning
This report recommends that partners in the environmental sector investigate the possibilities of ‘green jobs’ related to climate change action as well as other environmental management and conservation priorities, and work to renew and strengthen the role of SETAs, to ensure the provision of high-quality and relevant training and education, to meet sectoral employment and development needs, and to unlock the resources in and intentions of the system. It is suggested that the Department of Environment Affairs leads a civil society partnership linked to the Human Capital Development Strategies, to engage the relevant SAQA partners. It also suggests sectorally-based (‘peer review’) quality management systems for the myriad of short courses and workplace-related training offered by consultants, universities and other agencies in and to the environmental sector, involving professional bodies, and/or Human Capital Development Strategy forums.
Career Guidance and Schools Report
Why is environmental career guidance important? In addition to the pool of qualified individuals for which environmental agencies must compete being relatively small, there is also a perception that the environmental sector is not very attractive to school leavers and graduates, particularly among designated groups. One reason could be that environmental career opportunities are largely ‘hidden’ from view in comparison to occupations such as law and medicine, and that few know about the study - and career possibilities in the field. It is clearly important to promote the opportunities in the environmental sector, to encourage adequate numbers of school leavers to enrol for relevant studies. This report focuses on career guidance opportunities and constraints in South African schools.
HSRC Report: Guidelines for a Human Capital Development Strategy for the Biodiversity Conservation Sector.
Sectoral research report produced by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) for the Lewis Foundation and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Authors: Vass JR, Roodt J, Wildschut A, Bantwini B and Reddy V. November 2009. The contents include chapters on: The macroenvironment affecting the biodiversity conservation sector; Nature and dynamics of employment in the biodiversity conservation sector; Factors affecting learner study and career choices - Lessons from the Youth into Science Strategy; Size and nature of the higher education supply to the biodiversity sector; Scarce skills and the nature of training provision in the biodiversity conservation sector; Dynamics of professional and managerial pathways in the biodiversity conservation sector; Recommendations.
Summary of Research Findings
Brief summary of research findings regarding the biodiversity sector, relevant to the Human Capital Development Strategy.
