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.
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.
Report commissioned by the Department of Environment Affairs and the Rhodes University Environmental Education and Sustainability Unit, to inform Human Capital Development in the Environmental Sector. Authors: Eureta Rosenberg and Jane Burt, November 2009
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.
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.
The consultation was conducted as part of the annual conference of the national Biodiversity Information Management Forum. It followed on (and was informed by) earlier discussions on capacity and capacity development in the sub-sector, at the 2007 and 2008 forums. Dr Eureta Rosenberg ran tProgramme. Rene du Toit of SANBI lent a hand, and several guest presenters he workshop as part of the stakeholder engagement she was contracted to undertake for SANBI and the Lewis Foundation, towards the development of a Human Capital Development Strategy for the Biodiversity Sector. She was assisted in the planning and facilitation of the workshop by Selwyn Willoughby and Heather Terrapin of SANBI and Dr Glenda Raven of the C.A.P.E. Capacity Building made short inputs.
Report commissioned by the Department of Environment Affairs and the Rhodes University Environmental Education and Sustainability Unit, to inform Human Capital Development in the Environmental Sector. Authors: Eureta Rosenberg and Jane Burt, November 2009
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.
Presentation made at the launch of the Draft Human Capital Development Strategy on 1 Dec 2009.
Brief summary of research findings regarding the biodiversity sector, relevant to the Human Capital Development Strategy.
Schools Quality & Environmental Learning Report
Much has been said about the poor performance of the South African schools system. This report summarises key issues, with details in Appendix 1. It provides an analysis of the underlying factors, drawing on the extensive literature available, and on 12 interviews with teachers and departmental officials in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
It is important to consider the systemic nature of the factors underpinning the crisis in schooling, when planning investments in human capital development. Most analysts describe multiple causes to the problems, even though the media and others have tended to focus on one factor, being the outcomes-based curriculum.
Higher Education Quality and Relevance
This report was prepared as part of a series of reviews of issues of quality in educational provision in the environmental sector. These studies have been commissioned by the Rhodes University Environmental Education and Sustainability Unit in partnership with the Department of Environment Affairs, to inform human capital development strategies currently being planned in the sector.
The report is based on a review of a small selection of literature as well as interviews conducted in 10 universities (including universities of technology) across the country, with academic staff in science faculties that offer environment-related research and teaching programmes, and with student counsellors.
