Setas and the Soccer World Cup have much in common

“2010 promises to be a very exciting year. While excitement is mounting daily in South Africa as the countdown begins for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the world’s biggest sporting event outside the Olympic games, 2010 also promises to be a very exciting year for Fasset and for Setas generally,” says Fasset CEO, Cheryl James.

Setas have now entered the final quarter of their tenth year of operation. “Just as the thirty-two countries who qualified for the 2010 Soccer World Cup gave it their all, ensuring that they would have an opportunity to perform at the highest possible level internationally, Setas too are ‘pulling out the stops’ to maximize delivery in the next three months, recognizing that skills development is a national priority, and recognizing too, that their performance will be carefully scrutinized in the months ahead,” James explains.

Although learners and employers in the Fasset sector do not enjoy a high profile like our national soccer team, Bafana Bafana, James says learners and employers in the Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and Other Financial Services (Fasset) sector are global players, nevertheless. “The finance sector is global and employers and learners have to constantly meet international accounting standards. Fasset, together with professional bodies in the sector plays an instrumental role in ensuring that these standards are met,” James informs.

While the Soccer World Cup operates on a four-year cycle, with Germany hosting the most recent Soccer World Cup, Setas have traditionally operated on a five-year cycle. The new five-year Seta cycle is due to commence on 1 April 2010. However, as a result of Setas moving from the Department of Labour to the Department of Higher Education and Training in November last year, Minister Blade Nzimande has extended the current Seta landscape and the NSDS II for another year.

“Just as the soccer fraternity is able to influence the four-year Soccer World Cup cycle, by providing input, Setas too are able to influence the future Seta cycle, and the future Seta landscape by providing informed, objective, input,” she observes.

James says valuable lessons can be learnt from preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. “This event has demonstrated the importance of pre-planning and commitment to making a difference well before an event starts. It has also demonstrated the value of incorporating lessons learnt from other such events, as part of the planning process,” she explains.

As Setas enter the planning phase for NSDS III, James says Setas, together with their stakeholders, have a window of opportunity to get involved in the planning and in the input stage: “Undoubtedly the best way to make a positive contribution and to influence the outcome is to be committed to, and involved in, the planning process.”

Long after the 2010 Soccer World Cup has ended, James says its legacy will live on through infrastructural improvements and upgraded facilities throughout the country.

“By providing input for the NSDS III and being fully committed to supporting the NSDS III and the future Seta landscape, Setas are inextricably linked to creating a better life for all. There can be no better legacy than this,” James concludes.