News Release Archive

HUMAN RESOURCES--CIVIL SERVANTS TRAINING PROGRAM IN SYDNEY
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Civil servants in Cape Breton will no longer have to leave home
for management training.

The Nova Scotia Department of Human Resources and the Marconi
Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College have signed a
memorandum of understanding setting up management training and
development programs at the Sydney campus.

"This initiative has been a good example of co-operation among
many groups in the public sector -- the Department of Human
Resources, the interdepartmental training committee here in
Sydney and the Marconi Campus, NSCC," Human Resources Minister
Allister Surette said at today's signing of the memorandum. "It
makes sense that we work together and share facilities."

It's the first time the newly revamped management development
programs are being held outside of the Halifax area. It saves
departments the time and expense of having employees travel to
Halifax for the programs.

"We see the development of government's human resources as key to
the successful delivery of services to the public," said Mr.
Surette. "That's why the government invested more than $800,000
last year in leadership and team-skill development training for
its employees."

"The Marconi Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College is very
pleased to be co-operating with the Department of Human Resources
in the delivery of management training," said Mike Kelly,
principal of the campus. "The signing of a memorandum of
understanding between the organizations provides an opportunity
for collaboration in the delivery of training initiatives on Cape
Breton and elsewhere in Nova Scotia."

Twenty government employees are enrolled in the leadership
development program for managers. The program provides training
in such areas as team leadership, facilitating meetings, and
managing organizational change. The program involves 13 days of
courses over six months.

The Department of Human Resources was created in 1993 to develop
the human resources of government. Over the past year, about 300
provincial government employees have participated in the
development programs such as the leadership development program
offered at the Marconi Campus. A total of 2,500 civil servants
have taken part in training courses offered through the
department ranging from computer skills to occupational health
and safety practices to retirement planning.

The Nova Scotia Community College is committed to meeting the
occupational training needs of students and employers by
providing relevant, accessible and affordable post-secondary
programs. It is the second-largest post-secondary institution in
Nova Scotia with 7,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students
and 1,000 staff at 14 campuses across the province offering 137
certificate and diploma programs.

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Contact: Norma MacIsaac
         Department of Human Resources
         902-424-5427
         Cell: 902-471-8098
 
         Wilma Butts
         Nova Scotia Community College
         902-424-4712

trp                      June 6, 1997 - 11:50 a.m.