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УДК 528.7
Prof. Dr. John C. Trinder First Vice President ISPRS
School of Surveying and SIS, The University of NSW, Sydney Australia
E-mail: j.trinder@unsw.edu.au
COMPETENCY STANDARDS - A MEASURE OF THE QUALITY OF A WORKFORCE
SUMMARY
Competency Standards are increasingly being used by professions and governments to define the qualifications required for professionals to practise in a discipline. They define a range of levels of competency and the capabilities that must be achieved at these levels. These standards are defined independently of the education standards, the assumption being that a combination of education and experience will enable professional to progress through the various levels of competency.
Competency standards provide recognition that a person has demonstrated professional excellence and maintain the high standards of competency of his/her profession. They assist employers to satisfy themselves that a candidate for employment is suitably qualified. As well as gaining the qualification, professionals are usually required to continue to maintain or improve their level of competency by undertaking approved continuing profession development.
Competency is the ability to apply knowledge and skills to produce a required outcome. It is the ability to perform activities within an occupation; to function as expected for employment; and the ability to do a job under a variety of conditions, including the ability to cope with contingencies. Competency cannot be directly observed and hence it has to be inferred from indirect evidence and is performance based. The benefits of competency standards are that they can test the effectiveness of training, improve recruitment, identify training gaps, lead to improved efficiency, productivity, worker safely and employee retention.
The paper will discuss, with reference to experiences in several countries for the fields of surveying/geomatics and spatial information systems experts, the rationale for developing competency standards, the procedures for their development, and their applications in practice, routes to competency and procedures for stepping to higher levels.
1. INTRODUCTION
Competency Standards are used by professions and governments to define the qualifications required for professionals to practise in a profession or discipline. They are usually listed at different levels according to the capabilities of the individual and are defined independently of the education standards, the assumption being that a combination of education and experience will enable professional to progress through the various levels of competency. Competency standards provide recognition that a person has demonstrated professional excellence and continues to maintain the high standards of his/her profession. They assist employers to satisfy themselves that a candidate for employment is suitably qualified. As well as gaining the qualification, professionals are usually required to continue to maintain or improve their level of competency by undertaking approved continuing profession development.
Competency is the ability to apply knowledge and skills to produce a required outcome. It is the ability to perform activities within an occupation; to function as expected for employment; and the ability to do a job under a variety of conditions,
including the ability to cope with contingencies. Competency cannot be directly observed and hence it has to be inferred from indirect evidence and hence is performance based. Competency is defined by a set of standards, which define the level of attainment at various levels. The benefits of competency standards are that they can test the effectiveness of training, improve recruitment, identify training gaps, lead to improved efficiency, productivity, worker safely and employee retention.
The paper will give the rationale and processes for development of competency standards and give some examples of these standards, the routes to competency, in several English speaking countries for the fields of surveying/geomatics, photogrammetry and remote sensing, and spatial information systems experts.
2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
It is well established that universities are responsible for education, which is the development of knowledge. Education has long term aims, by providing essential background knowledge in such topics as the sciences, engineering, fundamentals of adjustments of observations, and computing, and in some cases, the humanities. Universities also provide some level of skills training, but in most cases, these skills will become out-of-date within a relatively short time period. Examples of such skills are instrument use and software operations which must be taught to students to enable them to function in their profession when their education has been completed, but due to the development of technologies, will become obsolete in a short time. Vocational training institutions will devote more time to skills training or skills formation and less time on the provision of background knowledge. Skills development has shorter term aims than education. The proof of the adequacy and effectiveness of education and training systems are the competency of the graduates when they enter the profession. However, since education has long term aims, the proof of the efficiency of education will be whether the graduate can adapt to new technologies over several decades while he/she is employed in the workforce.
3. COMPETENCY
Competency is expected to develop from the three components over an employee’s lifetime, comprising education, training and experience. Certifying a certain level of competency is separate from what is described variously in different countries as legal registration of licensure, which is legally enforceable registration of an individual by a regional jurisdiction, aimed at protecting the community against incompetent or fraudulent operations by individuals without adequate qualifications. There are many examples of legal registration of licensure throughout the world. Certification of competency is undertaken by an individual for official recognition by one's colleagues and peers that he/she has demonstrated professional integrity and competence in their field Employees will bring to their employment, their basic education and skills, but their ‘competency’ will be based on their education and the experiences that they gain from working within the
profession. Competency is developed from on-the-job training, based on an exposure to a range of activities that test the employees’ ability to cope with a variety of different situations. Such experience improves an employee’s ability to handle new problems and situations. As employees gain experiences, their ability of cope with unusual circumstances improves and therefore they reach a higher level of competency. Developing competency is typically based on a prescribed level of training.
Competency based training is designed to help people achieve the required outcomes, whatever the particular task the individual is requested to undertake. Such training is intended to avoid theoretical training and concentrate on skills formation, so that once the training is completed the graduates have the necessary skills to do the work required of them. The training must therefore be based on a set of competency standards
4. COMPETENCY STANDARDS
The measurement of competency comprises individual units of competency, which is a broad area of work that can logically stand-alone. They are detailed documents that specify the functions performed by an enterprise or industry at certain levels or ‘units’, and are written in a special format that can be used to assess/determine outcomes.
4.1.A Unit of Competency
A unit of competency can be described by its function or purpose. The steps that have to be performed to achieve an outcome and the means of demonstrating that it has been performed satisfactorily should be described, as well as the conditions under which the function will be performed. The description will also include knowledge and skills that a person needs to perform the task and the means of assessing whether a person can perform the task.
4.2.Benefits of Competency Standards
Competency standards can test the effectiveness of training, improve recruitment, identify training gaps which should lead to improved efficiency, productivity, worker safety and employee retention. As well they can be used to develop enterprise practices and procedures, for performance management, and quality management system for licensing purposes. Training packages may replace formal education and training systems in certain circumstances
5. EXAMPLES OF COMPETENCY STANDARDS
Competency standards have been established in a number of English speaking countries, including United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Australia. The requirements of these standards vary according to the conditions set by the relevant organization within each country. Competency may be compulsory or voluntary, while the continuation of an individual’s recognition of competency may require regular attendance at conferences, courses or training programs, referred to as continuing professional development.
5.1.The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in UK has extensive documentation on competency for professional and technician levels of competency, covering many pathways within the general area of geomatics, including remote sensing and photogrammetry, mapping and spatial data capture and presentation. Competencies are defined at three levels of attainment:
Level 1 - knowledge and understanding
Level 2 - application of knowledge and understanding
Level 3 - reasoned advice and depth of technical knowledge.
As well, they are three categories of competencies:
Mandatory competencies - the personal, interpersonal, professional practice and business competencies common to all pathways and compulsory for all candidates.
Core competencies - the primary competencies of the chosen pathway of the professional.
Optional competencies - a set of competencies selected by the candidate from a list defined for the particular pathway.
The documents also describe the knowledge and skills required of each level. For example, in remote sensing and photogrammetry, the following are listed:
Level 1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of remote sensing and photogrammetry (both aerial and terrestrial).
Level 2
Apply your knowledge and be aware of scales, camera and satellite principles and different data capture techniques. Understand and undertake procedures for routine data capture, and analyse and/or adjust/transform data. Use standard industry software.
Level 3
Provide evidence of fit-for-purpose advice on client requirements. Identify and assess client specifications. Use advanced industry software and advise on data transfer and/or format.
Each of these levels is described in further detail. All candidates, on all routes and all pathways, must achieve the defined level of the mandatory competencies. These competencies are a mix of the professional practice, interpersonal, business and management skills that are considered common to, and necessary for, all chartered and technical surveyors. The processes are defined in the documentation. Progression between levels is also define.
Each professional is expected to plan and achieve professional development, comprising a minimum of 48 hours’ professional development for each 12 months’ structured training.
5.2.USA - The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
provides certification for three areas, namely Certified Photogrammetrist (ASPRS), Certified Mapping Scientist, Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and Certified Mapping Scientist, GIS/LIS (ASPRS). The certification is based on a number of years experience, credit for some of which can be obtained from formal university courses. As well, the ASPRS requires recertification every 5 years, based on evidence of activities that demonstrate the individual’s continued involvement in the industry and has attended conferences, courses etc to maintain his/her level of competence.
5.3.Canada - Canadian Remote Sensing Society
The Canadian Remote Sensing Society has developed a program for certification of Remote Sensing Scientists and Mapping Scientists in photogrammetry or GIS. This certification is similar to the process described previously for ASPRS, including recertification.
5.4.Australia - Spatial Sciences Institute
Competency standards are defined for a large number of occupations throughout Australia and can be searched through the National Training Information Service. As well, in Australia many professions have developed procedures for assessing competence, such as The Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust) and the Institution of Surveyors (ISA). The recent formation of the Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) covering the spatial sciences in Australia including remote sensing and photogrammetry, has led to the establishment of a certification process within SSI. There is a requirement for 10 years equivalent work experience’, credit for a large part of this requirement can be reduced by prior formal education. To remain certified, a professional must undertake regular continuing professional development, comprising an average of 20 points per annum over a 4 year period. This is equivalent to an average of approximately 6-7 days in professional development activities each year.
6. CONCLUSIONS
In many English speaking countries, professionals in the spatial information industry are encouraged to gain certification to demonstrate their competency in their chosen profession. While this process is not compulsory, organisations believe that it increasingly important for their members to gain certification and to advance through the levels of competencies. As well, continuing professional development is seen as an essential aspect of ensuring that professionals maintain their currency in their knowledge and skills to undertake tasks in an increasingly complex society. It is certainly advisable for all young professionals to undertake
certification and to maintain their competency through continuing professional development throughout their careers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
ASPRS Certification, www.ASPRS.org accessed 29 February 2008 ‘Your pathway to qualifying in Geomatics’, www.RICS.org access 29 February 2008 ‘Assessment of Professional Competence RICS Education and Training’, www.RICS.org, accessed 6 February 2008
‘Australian Engineering Competency Standards’ Institution of Engineers Australia, www.ieaust.org, accessed 29 February 2008.
Accreditation and Competencies’,www.isaust.org.au, accessed 6 March 2008.
The National Training Information Service, www.ntis.gov.au, accessed 6 March 2008.
© Prof. Dr. John C. Trinder, 2008
