Exploring learning and development practitioners’ experiences regarding the South African Army’s University Reserve Training Programme

Abstract

Reserve Force training is essential to ensure that the Regular Force is sufficiently sustained in times of national emergency. Thus far, limited research has been conducted on the experiences of learning and development practitioners (LDPs) regarding South African Reserve Force Training, specifically the University Reserve Force Training Programme (URTP). The aim of this study was to investigate South African (SA) Army LDPs’ experiences regarding the SA Army’s URTP. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design, specifically a phenomenological strategy, was used to explore LDPs’ experiences. Purposeful sampling was used to select nine (9) participants to be interviewed individually regarding their experiences as LDPs of the URTP. The researcher analysed the data and a co-coder cross-checked the codes. The results pertaining to LDPs’ experiences of the SA Army’s URTP were framed within an interpretivist paradigm. Six (6) themes were identified after data analysis, namely insufficient planning to deliver the SA Army’s URTP, stakeholder support for training, inadequate recruitment, selection and basic military training of candidates, delivering the SA Army’s URTP training interventions, quality assurance of the SA Army’s URTP, and lastly the recommendations for effective delivery of the SA Army’s URTP. The results pertaining to planning, availability of learners to undergo training, resources to support training, and time constraints were significant in determining the LDPs’ experiences. Recommendations such as extensions of the URTP over a longer period and the use of e-learning as a training delivery method were made to address the research findings and for future research.