One of the biggest strengths of the Civil Service Training and Development Institute is its ability to adapt to political, economic or social changes and respond to the needs of the civil service.
Among the changes likely to affect all departments is the change of sovereignty. Already the institute has devoted much effort and resources to prepare civil servants for this. Training in Putonghua and written Chinese will assume a high profile. Seminars and courses on China and the Basic Law will have priority.
Other training and development programmes to tie in with transition-related changes are to be organised.
The institute will provide training support to current and future central initiatives affecting all departments.
Training to reinforce the Serving the Community and Human Resource Management initiatives will, for example, continue to be the main focus.
Another major area in which the institute is investing more resources is self-learning products. Increasingly, departments are finding it hard to release staff to attend courses. Self-learning materials will allow staff to study at their own pace and in their own time.