The SkillCentric platform, previously known as myGUS, was the first online learning technology to be utilised within the freight forwarding industry in South Africa. With the assistance of training provider Global Trade Training, hundreds of learners have completed this one-year learnership to receive a National Certificate.
The unique approach and amount of thought put into the SkillCentric approach to online learning revolves largely around intensive tutor coaching and a great emphasis is placed on exercises structured around real life work situations where learners play a “role” and are able to problem-solve in much the same manner as they would have to in the working world.
Learners also learn how to spot errors in shipping documents, prepare costing reports and quotes, and prepare the various documents required for shipments. Shaun Lake from SkillCentric says: “Our e-learning approach makes the training experience effective in producing the necessary industry skills, and thus far the result is competence.”
Lake goes on to say that one fascinating facet of these e-learnerships is that many of the learners were school leavers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and were not familiar with the Internet, but found their feet quickly and were submitting assignments within the first few weeks of the commencement of the programme.
Learners new to the industry begin work at a freight forwarding company, and are immediately enrolled onto the e-learnerships. Learners have strong imperatives to not only remain on the learnership but also to perform to the best of their abilities. “If learners fall off the learnerships they lose their jobs,” says Lake.
Not a single class is held face to face, as the support provided by the qualified tutors, along with the nature of the course exercises, are sufficient to ensure the best completion and pass rate. The SkillCentric reporting format allows managers to see deviations at a glance and intervene where needed, and Lake says: “Despite the initial reluctance, the client organisations enjoyed our approach.”
Lake says that management found it useful, and because all assignments are submitted online, all the information is automatically converted to progress reports. “Managers are constantly kept up-to-date on the status and performance of learners at any given time, so there are no headaches involved in obtaining this information.”
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