IPA’s efforts in producing Training Directory lauded
| Ishan Ibrahim |
The Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Wahab bin Juned, has underlined the importance of the Civil Service Institute (IPA) to prioritise quality and select “outsourcing” services that are highly commendable.
The deputy minister also emphasised the need for IPA to widen its network of cooperation that spans local, regional and international areas in a more open and professional manner during the launching of the Training Directory at the Royal Brunei Polo Club (RBPC).
The theme of the event was “Bridging Competencies Towards High Performance”.
He also praised the efforts of IPA in producing the Training Directory that fulfils its responsibility to develop the manpower of the government and private sectors that is skilled and productive.
Hence, customers and clients of IPA can obtain a more informed decision regarding the requirements of their training programmes, he added.
He stressed that IPA is duly responsible to ensure its efficient execution of the directory so trust can be borne from customers.
On another note, the deputy minister commented that IPA has to reinforce its ‘in-house’ capabilities where suitable to obtain external services, such as a high-quality “outsourcing” that can be cost-effective and avert financial wastage.
In the context of IPA’s capacity in conducting training programmes, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Wahab elucidated the strategic importance to enhance its ‘in-house’ capabilities to avoid being solely dependable on outsourcing services at every level. The reason is that this situation is not sustainable in terms of finance, and IPA hence will not achieve its aims of being a centre of excellence in the long term.
In widening the scope of training programmes, he said IPA is currently active in the preparation that includes regional and international network of cooperation. The entities involved in the networks included Mount Eliza Executive Education (Australia), Harvard University, Public Administration International (UK), and Razak School of Government (Malaysia) amongst others.
The deputy minister further explained that the IPA Training Directory 2013-2015 is an attestation that IPA values planning, transparency and predictability.
Thus, IPA has to update its plans of human development to achieve its medium and long term targets in terms of the quantity of officers to be recruited and trained.
He said IPA can be a capable consultant for ministries and government departments in expertise that can identify the potential of officers, counselling, public administration, assessment and others.
According to IPA, the Training Directory 2013-2015 is aimed at assisting the ministries and government departments in efficient planning and training programmes that are suitable to the needs of the respective organisation, as well giving an opportunity to the private sector to be more involved in training programmes connected to management, supervisory and administrative levels in the IPA.
The event was also highlighted by a talk from Shubha Narayanan, Consultant and Managing Partner of HR Strategies, Singapore, and was attended by permanent secretaries, directors, heads of department, personnel, and representatives from government-linked companies and NGOs.