DPM ATTENDS VALIDATION WORKSHOP

The Department of Personnel Management recently attended a two-day validation workshop hosted by the Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance (SILAG).

Along with participants from various government departments, DPM engaged in interactive discussions to validate four courses offered at the institute.
1. National Certificate 4 in Government – Local Government Administration
2. National Certificate 4 in Government- Public Administration
3. National Certificate 4 in Government – Public Finance
4. National Certificate 4 in Information Technology

This workshop serves as a quality assurance process where stakeholders from government departments are invited to provide their input on the relevance of newly developed or revised qualifications and their units of competencies.
Throughout the workshop, participants had interactive discussions on validating the content and structure of these courses to ensure they align with workplace needs, national standards, and stakeholder expectations.
Many of the participants expressed their admiration for SILAG’s initiative.

DPM’s executive Manager Strategic HR Management Mary Gonadara who attened this event said the workshop was a valuable opportunity to enhance training efforts, strengthen cooperation, improve officers’ skills, and better serve the public.

She said that there is a need for more validation workshops to develop resource books for training in departments and the public sector.

SILAG Workforce Training Development Director, Robert Nemala highlighted that there is an urgent need to rethink workforce development in the public sector.

He added that SILAG’s goal was to create a more inclusive and adaptable workforce by aligning lifelong learning with the changing demands of the job market.

This would ensure that public servants were prepared to handle future challenges. One major goal is for SILAG to become a public service university by 2027. “This change will focus on developing leadership and governance skills to prepare future leaders for a dynamic public service environment,” said Mr. Nemala.
The presentation also discussed future job needs, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and using data. Public servants are encouraged to adopt new technologies and work collaboratively. “We want to create roles that are project-based and impact-focused, moving away from traditional job descriptions,” explained Nemala.
Mr. Nemala invited participants to help develop training materials that meet the changing needs of public service. “Today’s workforce must quickly adapt to new technologies and policies. With your input, we can keep our training programs relevant,” Nemala added.