Cape Town-based software company, STT (Software Training Technology), will provide the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a state-of-the-art training system that will enable UCT to train their staff across 60 academic departments and 10 administrative departments without leaving their desks.
The new system will also provide staff with access to refresher training on demand via their desktop computers enabling them to train at their own pace and in their own time. UCT joins the ranks of other large organisations - such as Airbus, BBC, British Airways, Barclays, Dimension Data, Kumba Resources, Nedbank, SARS and Woolworths - in using STT`s technology-based training system to train staff on their computer applications.
UCT staff will initially be using STT`s training tool to learn how to use a new student administration system (PeopleSoft`s Enterprise Campus Solution) which will be rolled out later this year. Similar to a flight simulator, STT`s training software accurately re-creates the live computer environment so UCT staff are free to practise and learn in a safe and realistic environment without the fear of impacting the live data or system. The simulations created, using STT`s software, provide the user with an interactive multimedia learning experience including step-by-step instructions and guidance throughout the lesson, as well as feedback and assessment on the individual`s progress.
Industry experts are recognising the benefits of simulations for training. "Simulations can aid major software deployments by not only improving user training and knowledge retention, but also by saving money," states a Gartner Inc. industry report by Gartner analyst James Lundy titled "Application Simulation Offers Many Benefits in E-Learning".
"When we did classroom-based training before, we found that users were nervous to press the `enter` button in the `live` environment once training was over. They lacked the confidence that STT`s simulation training and self-assessments give them. When we realised how valuable it would be to utilise this sort of tool in our training, we made it a priority to go with STT," said Dr Jim McNamara, Deputy Registrar and Project Director for the PeopleSoft (student administration system) implementation at the University of Cape Town.
In order to reduce the time and cost required to train their staff before roll-out of the new student administration system, UCT decided to supplement its classroom-based training with STT`s technology-based training system.
"We were looking for a more professional, sophisticated and cost-effective method of training for all of our end-users across our different systems. And that`s where STT came in," continues Dr McNamara.
More than 200 companies around the world are already using STT`s locally developed training software to provide training to hundreds of their staff. STT`s software enables organisations with recurring training needs to reduce the time and cost required to train staff on their computer applications, and to ensure user competency and compliance with industry regulations.
"One of the reasons UCT chose STT was our ability to provide a training solution that not only could be used across all of their computer systems and applications, but could also meet their unique needs as a university. Our successful trial at UCT, as well as our proven success at other universities, such as the University of Warwick in the UK, made us the obvious choice," said Lenard Hall, Regional Sales Manager for STT Africa and Australasia.
"Our decision to go with STT was based on its functionality and ease-of-use, as well as their client list and references. We could see that a number of high-profile organisations - both local and overseas - had done their own analysis and chosen STT. Their success stories made us confident enough to decide to make STT`s technology-based training system the core of our training programme," concludes McNamara.
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