June 2003

Professional development training opportunities for ALIA members

Partnerships with MLF and APESMA Management Education announced

On 14 March 2003 the ALIA Board of Directors endorsed the ALIA 2003 and 2004 plan: making the difference. Initiative D of this plan is to 'Implement a comprehensive continuing professional development program through arrangements with external training providers'. As a first step in this initiative a partnership has been formed with Monash Learningfast (MLF), a company of Monash University.

Courses offered by MLF are available via the internet and include any of the TeachMe single courses. Normally the TeachMe courses are packaged, for example the Microsoft Office suite of applications. As an exclusive offer, ALIA members can choose to undertake individual courses, for example, just word processing, spreadsheets or databases. The TeachMe courses are structured with interactive tutorials that enable the user to work through a simulated software environment, online workbooks, and popular task tutorials which teach the user how to complete commonly required tasks.

The other product offered to ALIA members by MLF is the ICT Skills Benchmark (Information, Communication and Technology) package. This is a competency-based package that provides a foundation for the effective use of information, communication and technology products and services. The package is structured around pre- and post-tests to enable identification of training needs and enables learning outcomes to be measured, interactive learning over the internet, online manuals and post-test certification (ICT Skills Benchmark).

The partnership with MLF will be of interest to those ALIA members who want to update their existing skills, or to learn new skills, and institutional members who need to access courses for staff development.

Through the partnership MLF is offering significant discounts to ALIA members. For three months from 1 June, ALIA members can access these courses for the following prices: TeachMe single courses - $45 each (including GST) only available to ALIA members as single courses. ICT Skills Benchmark - single user $125 (including GST), a fifty per cent discount.

After 1 September 2003 prices will increase as follows: TeachMe single courses - $60 each (including GST). ICT Skills Benchmark - single user $185.00 (including GST), a twenty-five per cent discount.

ALIA members registered for MLF courses will also have access to the Monash Learningfast Help Desk, available from 9:00-5:30pm EST.

More information on the courses offered can be found at http://www.learningfast.com.au - follow the links from 'Our products'. If you would like to register for any of the courses please go to http://alia.org.au/education/cpd/ on the ALIA website and follow the links to the registration information and the registration form for MLF courses.

Management training

ALIA is currently developing a professional partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) Management Education.

APESMA Management Education offers a wide range of management training courses suitable to all levels of management. These courses range from one- or two-day short courses, to online courses that can be completed over a 12 week period. APESMA Management Education also offers post-graduate qualifications in partnership with La Trobe University that will also be available to ALIA members. This partnership will provide ALIA members with a significant discount on course fees. The partnership is due to commence on 1 July 2003 and full details will be published in the July issue of inCite.

For further information on either of these partnerships please contact ALIA membership, on 02 6215 8258.