XN000022-1984-05-07 — Page 5

MONDAY, MAY 7, 1984

TOP MANAGEMENT COURSES FOR SENIOR STAFF

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A TOP-LEVEL CENTRE TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES IN MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IS NOW BEING SET UP.

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THE 'SENIOR STAFF COURSE WILL OFFER TRAINING IN A FORMAT EQUAL TO, AND AS DEMANDING AS, THAT OF TOP MANAGEMENT TRAINING CENTRES IN BRITAIN OR THE UNITED STATES.

THE COURSE IS PITCHED AT A HIGH LEVEL OF CIVIL SERVANT AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT ITS CONCEPT AND CONTENT WILL EQUIP THOSE WHO COMPLETE IT WITH THE MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TOOLS FOR AN INCREASINGLY-COMPLEX FUTURE. EXECUTIVES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COURSES.

+ONE OF OUR AIMS IS TO GIVE PEOPLE A BROAD GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, SAID THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SENIOR STAFF COURSE, MR LEN SNEDDON.

+WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE MACHINE OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART.+

TO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: WHY DO SENIOR GOVERNMENT SERVANTS WHO, BY DEFINITION, ARE SUCCESSFUL NEED SUCH A TRAINING?

MR SNEDDON REPLIES: THERE ARE MANY SPECIALISATIONS THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE TRAVEL UP AND BECOME SENIOR PROFESSIONALS. THEY THEN REACH A LEVEL WHERE THEY BECOME MUCH MORE MANAGERIAL THAN PROFESSIONAL, AT LEAST IN CONCEPT.

+I THINK IT IS PERFECTLY REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME SENIOR WITHIN THIS HUGE GOVERNMENT MACHINE WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS BROAD PERSPECTIVE.+

MR SNEDDON IS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE SUNRIDGE PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE, ONE OF BRITAIN'S LEADING MANAGEMENT TRAINING RESIDENTIAL CENTRES. THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS OF THE COURSE SHOW EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORDS AND THEY HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY RECRUITED TO RUN THE NEW PROGRAMME.

GIVEN HONG KONG'S OBSESSION WITH PAPER QUALIFICATIONS IT MAY SEEM SURPRISING THAT THE QUESTION OF THE ISSUING OF A CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA TO THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE COURSE HAS NOT REALLY BEEN SETTLED YET. THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT THAT KIND OF COURSE.

MR IAN DEANE, STAFF TUTOR AND MOST RECENTLY DIRECTOR OF TRAINING FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAMMES UNIT OF THE CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY, EXPLAINED: +THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE ARE DOING FROM THE STANDARD UNIVERSITY, OR QUALIFICATION-BASED COURSE. THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE IN ITSELF. IT IS NOT JUST SITTING AT A DESK AND ABSORBING INFORMATION FROM A TALK OR FROM A TEACHER. THE EXERCISE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE EFFORT THAT PEOPLE PUT INTO IT.

/+THEY ARE