Developing Qualification Routes Patricia Pugh, Careers Scotland Jackie Sadler, NICEC

Qs 1 Level of Qualification  Patchy across Europe  Need minimum standards/ level of training  Need to look to the future

 Different perspectives – “ideal” vs “reality”  Level 6 minimum standard but…….  Duration of postgraduate courses  Bachelor degrees with specialisation – enough?  Non HE courses – parity of esteem

 Importance of career guidance to policy makers  Professional status cf other professions  Subsidiary part of job role – visibility  Boundaries not protectionism  Legislation – licence to practise?

 Link to Competency Framework  Definition of professional and sub professional roles ( link to EQF)  Qualifications Framework – other network players  Competencies should define qualifications  Common Occupational Standards

 Variations in training reasonable  Different qualification routes acceptable if professional standards maintained  Generic competencies with other professions should be recognised

Qs 2 Professional Specialisation  Body of specialist knowledge – yes!  Initial training – common base  CPD – contextual, specialisation  Competencies – generic and specialist  Range of providers if quality assured  LMI – unique selling point?

Qs 3 Other Issues  Definition of career guidance  Integration of academic study and experience in the field – added value  Importance of Practice Based Learning  Requirement to update knowledge and skills – CPD/ Reflective Practice  Personality traits?