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AUTHORISED TRAINING CENTRE (ATC) PROGRAMME: 2008

WHAT IS AN ATC?

Sage Pastel ATC’s are independent organisations that deliver a range of Sage Pastel educational services based on the Sage Pastel Software product range.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

ATCs are required to comply with stringent criteria and in so doing, qualify for the ATC status allowing them to train the Sage Pastel product they have signed up to as an ATC.  ATC status will be subject to an annual fee and status will have to be renewed on the 1st January

The details of the programme may vary with regards to distinct international territories.

SAGE PASTEL TRAINING COURSES MATERIAL:

Sage Pastel prides itself in providing high quality, instructionally sound technology training products and services. The courseware content enables training centres to offer complete and consistent information to all types of students.  

The courseware has been developed and written by subject matter experts with extensive experience on the products, in technical writing and hands-on classroom instruction. The courseware is easy to prepare, flows logically and is packed with relevant examples. An optimal combination of theoretical information and practical experience is incorporated into all courseware material.

Sage Pastel ATC’s may ONLY use the Sage Pastel training material supplied by Sage Pastel themselves or by their Principal ATC.

SAGE PASTEL CERTIFIED TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

To become a Sage Pastel ATC, you must have at least one Sage Pastel Certified Trainer (SPCT) associated exclusively with your site.
All SPCT’s who will be training the Sage Pastel range is required to obtain the mandatory Sage Pastel qualification associated with your ATC status.

Once a training site has been Sage Pastel approved, trainers have two months in which, to obtain this qualification. If this is not adhered to, this will result in the termination of ATC status.  Should you be renewing your Sage Pastel ATC status, or still fulfilling your annual ATC contract and Sage Pastel Software releases a new upgrade to the product range you are teaching, to which new training courses accompany the new product: your Sage Pastel Trainers will need to attend the new Sage Pastel course in order to train this version.

During your ATC contract with Sage Pastel, should your Sage Pastel trainers leave and you appoint new Sage Pastel trainers, these trainers will need to attend the relevant training courses that an ATC may teach before they train any students.

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS:

To maintain your annual membership in the Sage Pastel ATC Programme, your company must meet the requirements for Sage Pastel Certified Trainers, hardware standards, communications, and course delivery. Please read the following requirements thoroughly.

This section summarizes the basic Sage Pastel ATC membership requirements that each site is required to meet.

Customer Service

  • ATCs will be required to establish and publish quality control and general customer-satisfaction policies. These policies need to be made available to every student such as, instructor evaluations, and similar implementations. Sage Pastel Software monitors and tracks customer complaints and expects each Sage Pastel ATC to ensure that customers receive the best training experience. Continuous complaints can lead to probation or termination of ATC status.

Centre operations and Training Management

  • Employ and report at least one exclusive Sage Pastel Certified Trainer (SPCT) per site. All Sage Pastel ATCs are required to have at least one exclusive PCT linked to their site. Details of the PCT must be included in the ATC application form and must be kept updated throughout the year. The PCTs may be full or part-time trainers, employed or on contract, but each PCT may be associated with only one Sage Pastel ATC site.
  • The use of non-authorized sites for Sage Pastel training is prohibited.
  • Need to adhere to the Minimum and Maximum Training prices set for each training course.
  • Pay the annual Sage Pastel ATC fee. Prior to programme renewal (anniversary date). Please note that notice of Termination/cancellation must be given 60 days prior to the renewal date.

Courseware Delivery

  • Sage Pastel ATCs must abide by standards designed to prevent the piracy of Sage Pastel courseware, and other intellectual property associated with the Sage Pastel ATC Programme. Piracy/fraud in the context of the Sage Pastel ATC Programme includes, but is not limited to the following: copying, merging, reproducing, reverse engineering and disassembling Sage Pastel Authorized Material and certificates, illegally copying CDs included in the welcome kit, and fraudulent reporting within the guidelines of the training initiatives or related campaigns. The re-use or resell of Sage Pastel Authorized Material (PAM) is also prohibited and will result in immediate ATC status termination. Each new student must be provided with a new copy of the training material. Sage Pastel reserves the right to terminate Sage Pastel ATC status if found in violation of piracy or fraud standards as they relate to the above-mentioned criteria.
  • Courseware Audits. Sage Pastel and/or its designees will conduct random audits whereupon a company's courseware use policies will be examined to ensure that courseware has not been used or distributed illegally. The audit shall include but is not limited to the following:
    • Documenting the Sage Pastel ATC processes used to track purchase and sell PAM courseware
    • Quantifying the type and volume of PAM courseware purchased and sold by the Sage Pastel ATC
    • Reconciling the Sage Pastel ATC records with the Sage Pastel Operations records
    • Confirming that courseware completion certificates are being used correctly: one certificate for each student trained using PAM courseware; no certificates issued for non-PAM courses.
    Upon completion of the audit, should a Sage Pastel ATC be found to have sold more PAM courseware than purchased from Sage Pastel, the Sage Pastel ATC will be required to match Sage Pastel records when discrepancies are greater than 5%. In such situations, the Sage Pastel ATC will be required to pay a sum equal to the cost of the discrepancy in PAM as well as pay for the audit process. Upon notification of the discrepancy, the Sage Pastel ATC will have 30 days to resolve the matter. Failure to resolve the matter within 30 days may result in removal from the Sage Pastel ATC Programme and additional legal action.
  • Meet quarterly minimum courseware purchase requirements. Minimum volume requirements provide a way to recognize those Sage Pastel ATCs that are committed to offering and delivering Sage Pastel training in a consistent and timely manner. Sage Pastel ATCs with multiple sites are required to purchase the minimum volume for each site. A minimum requirement of 20 student manuals per site is required to be met. If this target minimum target is not reached, this could result in the termination of the ATC status.
  • All Sage Pastel ATC courses must be taught by a SPCT. To ensure quality delivery and instruction on Sage Pastel technologies, only PCTs may deliver public or private instructor-led courses.
  • The Sage Pastel Training material must be given to student at the start of the Sage Pastel course and not during or after the course commencement date.
  • Examinations. All Sage Pastel ATCs are expected to host and facilitate Sage Pastel examinations. 
  • Issue course completion certificates. Where applicable, certificates must be issued to each student who successfully completes a course examination. Certificates for any Sage Pastel course are only allowed to be printed by Sage Pastel.
  • Hold classes only at your Sage Pastel Approved sites. The use of non-authorized sites for public Sage Pastel training is prohibited and may result in termination of ATC status.
  • Onsite training. ATCs may offer and deliver training to a private company, organization or individual on site. ATCs may advertise private classes to individuals, either directly or through a third party.
  • No ATC may teach the Sage Pastel training courses at another Training Centre that is not an ATC of Sage Pastel.

HARDWARE AND FACILITIES

  • Instructor and student system requirements. Enrolled students must have access to a computer in order to practice what they are taught during the course via the practical examples supplied. Computers must have the minimum specs.
  • Any ATC that offers public classroom instruction should have access to facilities that meet the following minimum guidelines:
    • Adjustable ventilation system installed (cooling and/or heating according to regional requirements)
    • Projection equipment available
    • Projection screen with a diagonal measurement of at least 1.5 meters available
    • Ability to darken the room for display purposes
    • Blackboard or whiteboard of at least 1.5 square meters available. Markers, and cloth - preferably this should be separate from the projector
    • Printer or access to a printer
    • Flip-chart
    • Microphone not essential, but good, especially for larger crowds of students.
    • A 15 minute Tea Break in the morning and later afternoon, serving coffee, tea and biscuits, should be arrange for the students and lecturer, for each day that the course is running.
    • An hour lunch, including a meal, should also be arranged for both the students and lecturer for each day that the course is running.
  • Site inspections and audits. Sage Pastel and/or its designees may conduct site inspections and programme audits of the Sage Pastel ATC. The Sage Pastel ATC should maintain all student, class, PCT and related records for a period of one year from course completion date.

COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

The primary means of communication between Sage Pastel and the ATCs is through E-mail. It is essential that Internet and Email access is available. Sage Pastel will distribute email newsletters to highlight new opportunities and announcements. The primary contact is required to ensure the information provided by email communication is immediately disseminated within your organization. In the interest of keeping our records updated, please advise us of any changes to your contact details by emailing itraining@sagepastel.com.

CERTIFICATION

Sage Pastel officially recognizes students who attend a Sage Pastel training course at an approved Sage Pastel ATC. In order to obtain a certificate of competence from Sage Pastel, students will be required to pass the relevant examination.

Alternatively, on successful completion of the Sage Pastel Training course only, students will be eligible to receive an attendance certificate from Sage Pastel. Please note that this is not a certificate of competence and students have the option of taking an official Sage Pastel Examination.  Once approved as a Training Centre, you will receive a certificate order form. You will be required to submit the student details in writing, once the course has been competed.  Certificates are not forwarded directly to students, but to the Training Centre where the student completed the training. It is the Training Centers responsibility to forward the certificate to the student.

EXAMINATIONS

Sage Pastel ATCs have the opportunity to host Sage Pastel examinations using the official Sage Pastel Examinations. Using our examinations, Sage Pastel ATCs would be able to offer students the opportunity to obtain their internationally recognized Sage Pastel certification.

PROGRAMME BENEFITS

Membership in the Sage Pastel ATC programme includes the following benefits:

  • Revenue Generating Benefits:
    • Recognition and Logo: Sage Pastel ATCs will be provided exclusive access to the Sage Pastel ATC logo and can use the Sage Pastel ATC logo to market their training services. The logo emphasizes Sage Pastel ATC credibility as a certified provider of Sage Pastel technical training. The logos may be used in advertising, on business cards, and in other communications.
    • Referral and Lead Opportunities: Sage Pastel ATCs are eligible to receive customer referrals and leads through Sage Pastel. IT professionals, developers, and organizations in search of product training on Sage Pastel products can learn about ATCs through the Sage Pastel website. This way a broad Sage Pastel audience knows where to find training services delivered by Sage Pastel ATCs. The website takes students quickly from Sage Pastel course options to specific ATC details. This benefit enables ATCs to take advantage of the potential business generated by the www.sagepastel.com domain. Any training leads referred to an ATC by Sage Pastel must be responded to within 24 hours.
    • Sage Pastel Training Promotions: Sage Pastel regularly offers special training promotions with our ATCs. Participation is voluntary.
  • Cost Saving Benefits
    • Training-use licenses: As a Sage Pastel Authorised Training Centre, your company will be able to take full advantage of the Sage Pastel Educational Software provided exclusively to Sage Pastel ATCs. The software is licensed for up to 2500 transactions per classroom terminal and is for the purpose of training students on Sage Pastel products only. These training-use licenses are separate from your internal business licenses and protected by copy write guidelines. Copying or reproducing of the software is strictly prohibited.
  • Sage Pastel Partner ATC Welcome Pack which includes:
    • Certification testifying to Sage Pastel ATC status for the current year
    • Copy of student material
    • Educational software
    • Promotional Goodies
  • Discounts on training material
  • Regular updates and upgrades

APPLICATION FORM

To apply to become a Sage Pastel Authorised Training Centre, please complete the application form and email to either itraining@sagepastel.com or fax it to + 27 11 304 3038

 




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