The Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority’s (INSETA) pilot project to deliver an ‘Occupational Certificate: Insurance Agent (Insurance Underwriter) was boosted by the inclusion of mentors who supported students through their 12-month studies.

“It has been a successful pilot project, with more than 60 candidates entering the programme. We initially received many more applications but candidates had to qualify in terms of their industry experience, as this is a Level 5 qualification,” explains Nasreen Ravat, Acting Quality Assurance Division Manager, INSETA QA Division.

“One of the highlights of this course was the availability of mentors, both from within the candidate’s own firm and from industry experts. We were very grateful for the time and effort they put into this programme, as for many candidates this was the first time they had studied in many years.

“The mentoring and lecturer input was also valuable, as underwriters tend to stay within a specialised field, such as medical underwriting, and therefore lack the knowledge of long-term insurance requirements. This all-round approach will be continued in the future, though we have found it to be expedient to separate short-term from long-term insurance, as these are disparate fields.”

Heine du Randt of Santam, Dianne Steyn of Brightrock and Duane Hoffeldt of Scor all had two things in common; their praise for the new course and their enthusiasm to mentor again. “The content was good, it was practical and it challenged their thinking,” says du Randt. “I think the course is great and I would absolutely recommend it to underwriters. I notice how our candidates have become passionate ambassadors about the value of the course. ”

Steyn added, “I have been conducting learnerships and mentoring for the last 38 years and I found it easy to mentor candidates on the programme. I found the material good and it met my expectations, as I have been involved in qualifications for the past 14 years. I look forward to mentoring the next course.”

“I was fortunate with my candidate in that she was quite far down the road and did not need so much mentoring,” says Hoffeldt. “However, with a less experienced candidate, I would estimate that a mentor would need to put in 2-3 hours every single day for the first six months, which is why it makes sense that the sponsoring company allocates a mentor for its candidate. The course, though comprehensive, cannot cover everything, which is why a mentor is so essential.”

The qualification prepares candidates to evaluate and interpret information to protect stakeholders’ interests, by using specialist technical knowledge to determine, price, manage and transfer risk. The course can be completed in 12 months but there is a further six months available to allow candidates to complete their Portfolio of Evidence or assignments. Exams are set 18 months after each course begins and successful learners receive a Certificate.

“In the new year, we will again be calling for companies in the financial services industry to put forward their candidates and simultaneously put forward mentors from within applying companies and from industry experts, to increase the success rate,” concludes Ravat.

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INSETA’s purpose is to grow the pool and quality of scarce and critical skills in the insurance sector, enhance the sector and support the country’s transformation with a skilled and capable insurance and related services workforce. The insurance sector has approximately 9 104 employers, employing over 100 000 people, most of whom are skilled and highly skilled employees.

Milpark Education launches the National Certificate in Generic Management

Milpark Education’s College has launched a new online accredited qualification, the National Certificate in Generic Management. The course launches on 24 January 2017 - where classes for the first module will commence - and runs until 4 July, 2018. The National Certificate in Generic Management is quality assured by the South African Board of People Practices (SABPP). The qualification is aligned to NQF level 5 rating and it “forms part of a learning pathway of management qualifications across various sectors and industries,” explained Maritsa Grewe, Milpark College Academic Manager.  

Milpark Education boasts an interactive learning experience that is flexible enough for students to study at their own convenience, independently of place and time. Students participate in live online lecturing sessions and asynchronous online group discussions - multiple instances of assessment will ensure student progress.   The focus of this qualification is to enable learners to develop competence in a range of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values including:  

• Initiating, developing, implementing and evaluating operational strategies, projects and action plans, and where appropriate, recommending change within teams and/or the unit so as to improve the effectiveness of the unit.
• Monitoring and measuring performance and applying continuous or innovative improvement interventions in the unit in order to attain its desired outcomes, including customer satisfaction, and thereby contributing towards the achievement of the objectives and vision of the entity.
• Leading a team of first line managers by capitalising on the talents of team members and promoting synergistic interaction between individuals and teams. To enhance individual, team and unit effectiveness in order to achieve the goals of the entity.
• Building relationships using communication processes both vertically and horizontally within the unit with superiors and with stakeholders across the value chain to ensure the achievement of intended outcomes.
• Applying the principles of risk, financial and knowledge management and business ethics within internal and external regulatory frameworks in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the unit.
• Enhancing the development of teams and team members through facilitating the acquisition of skills, coaching, providing career direction, and capitalising on diversity in the unit.  

If you’ve a penchant for generic management studies then this course is for you. Applications for the 24 January 2017 intake are open and you can visit our website for more information or by contacting Student Services on 086 999 0030.

NOTES TO EDITORS  

Established in 1997, Milpark Education was one of the first private providers of higher management education in South Africa. Today, it remains a leading provider of Higher Education and Further Education and Training Qualifications. Milpark Education is registered with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a Private Higher Education Institution. With a national footprint in South Africa, Milpark has two teaching campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and a support office in Durban.  

The Milpark MBA has been rated in the Top 10 of Accredited Business Schools in South Africa since 2009. Milpark was rated as the number one private provider of the MBA degree in the 2015 PMR Africa national survey on accredited business schools offering MBA/MBL degrees in South Africa. In 2016, PMR Africa rated it number one again in the private sector, as well as second overall in the same year.  

Milpark Education comprises six schools of specialisation, namely

1. Milpark Business School
2. Milpark College
3. Milpark School of Commerce
4. Milpark School of Government
5. Milpark School of Investment and Banking
6. Milpark School of Financial Planning and Insurance