The Cape Winelands Fire Academy recently launched a new offline training system with the aim of improving training efficiency.
This is according to Heinrich Louw, regional commander for training at the academy. The launch took place on 5 August. The system was only formally implemented on Monday, 12 August, he said.
The Cape Winelands Fire Academy was chosen to pilot the Alpha Tower training service due to their “renowned reputation for excellence in firefighting and openness to innovative solutions”, according to Solomon Smit, CEO and inventor of Alpha Tower, which is an offline training management system. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
While digital training management systems exist, the new Alpha Tower training service provides a portable and offline alternative, according to Solomon Smit, CEO and inventor of Alpha Tower.
According to Smit, this means trainees can access courses, videos, quizzes, e-books, and interactive learning materials through the Alpha Tower system without needing an internet connection.
“Every student’s activity is automatically monitored and logged on the system, making auditing and quality assurance fast and efficient,” he said.
The Cape Winelands Fire Academy has been attended by about 7 000 firefighters for practical and theoretical training over the last 18 years, according to Jo-anne Otto, deputy director of communication services of the Cape Winelands Municipality. A new offline training system will make “significant improvements in training efficiency and effectiveness for the fire academy”, according to Heinrich Louw, the regional commander for training at the Cape Winelands Fire Academy. PHOTO: Nicola Amon
The implementation of the training system means significant improvements in training efficiency and effectiveness for the fire academy, said Louw.
“It eliminates the manual administrative tasks of setting up and marking exams, allowing trainers to focus more on instruction,” he said.
A step up for fire training centres
The Cape Winelands Fire Academy was chosen to pilot the Alpha Tower training service due to their “renowned reputation for excellence in fire fighting and openness to innovative solutions,” according to Smit.
“The system also facilitates detailed data analysis of results, helping to identify areas that need more attention,” said Smit.
The Alpha team worked closely with the Southern African Emergency Services Institute and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress to ensure that the content, tests, and assessments written by trainees comply fully with certification and international standards, according to Louw.
The launch of the Alpha Tower training service on 5 August at the Cape Winelands Fire Academy drew a national and international audience. This is according to Jo-Anne Otto, deputy director of communication services of the Cape Winelands Municipality. From left to right: Desiree Smit, Alpha Tower technical assistant, Solomon Smit, CEO of Alpha Tower, Heinrich Louw, training commander of Cape Winelands Fire Academy, Theresa Geldenhuys, president of South African Emergency Services Institute, Donna Fourie, Alpha Tower employee, Prof Wilfred Fritz, Alpha Tower employee. PHOTO: Supplied/Cape Winelands Fire Academy
A pioneer for use in other fields
The “groundbreaking” offline training technology has potential for use in fields beyond firefighting, said Smit. Universities, training centres and schools currently use a centralised server accessed via the internet, which requires expensive server hardware and specialised IT personnel to function, according to Smit.
Alpha Tower acts as a simpler alternative, requiring no IT personnel for installation, with an on and off button to access the system, according to Smit. “Instead of having thousands of users all accessing one server via the internet, each classroom has its own server and local wireless network,” said Smit.