News

Hard work pays off as Etana students impress with their year’s work

21 November, 2011

In the Etana Academy programme, Etana conducts a year-long course for students on elements of short-term insurance such as general insurance, commercial insurance, business relationships, Sasria (the South African Special Risks Insurance Association), accounting, mathematics and communication.

The company also provides students with the opportunity of obtaining work experience and, after passing the course, students are handed a short-term insurance qualification recognised by the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority.

“The Etana Academy aims to address the issue of skills shortage in our country,” says Teshania Ajodha, Etana learnership coordinator. “We focus on recruiting primarily matriculants who have just completed their schooling, or unemployed students younger than 23 years. In 2011 we also extended this programme to Etanans based in Nelspruit, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg.”

The training that participants are subjected to is very interactive, with group activities and individual work covering core topics. Students are also required to conduct presentations that provide them with the opportunity to communicate formally with one another, and learn about the various areas under discussion. These presentations allow the students to interact as a group, work under pressure, focus on time management and, most importantly, have fun. A facilitator splits participants into groups according to their performances during the year.

“I was really proud of all the students when they presented to the various managers and past and present mentors,” concludes Teshania. “They were awesome and showed how much they had progressed since the beginning of the year.”

The students were rewarded for these efforts when they were taken to Gold Reef City. They were split into groups of five and took part in an “Amazing Race” where they had to source a variety of clues hidden on the various rides within the theme park.

It was a great end to an incredible year.