Big things happening for South Africa’s L&D sector

The transformations witnessed in the realm of learning and development this year serve as a significant indicator of what lies ahead in 2024 and beyond.

The advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning has led to substantial cost reductions, rendering eLearning more accessible to South Africans. The industry’s focus has shifted from the crisis mentality induced by the Covid-19 pandemic to long-term and sustainable learning and development (L&D) solutions.

New Leaf Technologies, a South African learning solutions provider, has been actively navigating these changes and is enthusiastic about the country’s potential in this sector. According to Michael Hanly, the Managing Director of New Leaf, South Africa can emerge as a market leader, particularly considering time zones and language barriers, making it advantageous over traditional outsourcing destinations like India.

Hanly’s optimism is supported by the presence of global L&D authoring giant, Articulate, at New Leaf’s Learning Indaba. Articulate, which recently secured Series B funding of $4 billion, services the top 100 companies in the Fortune 500, indicating its recognition of South Africa’s potential.

Companies like New Leaf are embracing change within the sector, making them attractive to international players. They have introduced innovations such as a text-to-speech platform covering all 11 South African languages, emphasizing accessibility, diversity, and linguistic inclusivity. Additionally, AI integration across their software has significantly impacted cost mitigation and reduced lead times in narration.

In 2023, there was a notable increase in proctoring within Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA), providing academia with complete control over examinations. Learning management systems, equipped with features like audio and facial recognition, ensure exam integrity and validity, allowing learners to test remotely.

Looking ahead to the next year, Hanly anticipates a greater emphasis on learning for deskless workers through mobile platforms. AI, enhancing personalization and data-driven recommendations, will enable workers to access knowledge on-the-go, addressing specific needs at their workplace. New Leaf’s AI-powered generative knowledge companion, Sprout, is poised to play a pivotal role in providing work teams with timely information, offering organizations greater control over source material.

Paul Hanly, the founder of New Leaf, welcomes the shift away from the urgent thinking that characterized the pandemic period. The focus is now on highly functional Learning Management Systems (LMS) that can make a lasting contribution to businesses, marking a shift towards a more strategic and long-term approach in the field of learning and development.