Learning and development investment remains strong

Employers have continued to invest in learning and development despite financial constraints during the global financial crisis, with HR primarily taking responsibility for the function.

According to the inaugural National and Learning Development Index, less than half (39 per cent) of internal learning and development practitioners surveyed reported reductions in organisational training budgets in response to the global financial crisis.

The research also found that more than half (55 per cent) of internal practitioners indicated that the HR function is responsible for learning and development strategy and decision making.

In contrast, when consulting to an organisation, only 22 per cent of external consultants surveyed indicated that the HR department was their main point of contact on the provision of learning and development activities, with more than half 52 per cent reporting that they dealt directly with senior management.

Elsewhere in the report, nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents reported the link between learning and development and business strategy as strong or very strong.

The Index is a joint initiative between the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), the Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) and online training and compliance management company, Learning Seat.

National president of the AITD, Catherine Logue said: “The report highlights the need for practitioners to gain further professional development and education to perform their responsibilities, which is especially important for the high percentage of learning and development personnel in the role for less than two years.

“The learning and development profession needs to ‘walk its talk’ and focus on constant up-skilling and updating of its own professional development and with this Index, I hope we have aided in doing so.”