TCTrainNet LocalizationWorld Silicon Valley 2011 Dr. Michael Fritz, CEO tekom / tcworld GmbH

 In German-speaking countries  83,000 persons currently employed in Technical Communication (tekom 2010)  Roughly 70% of all TC employees do not have a formal qualification in TC, most of them are lateral career movers. These people are looking for different ways to prove their professional skills  Career prospects are very good: Demand for qualified Technical Communicators is constantly high, job satisfaction is pretty high, salary in Germany can be equivalent to engineers  Especially in uncertain times certificates can be helpful Certificates provide greater career stability and better career prospects Why certification in Technical Communication?

 Internationally  Career prospects differ: Traditional jobs have disappeared e.g. in the US, new jobs were created elsewhere e.g. in India  In Emerging Markets demand is growing / will be growing where R&D is deployed  In most countries the job profile of Technical Communicators is not (yet) known, e.g. East Europe, South Europe, Emerging Markets  No university programs or private training courses exist there Certification helps bridging the gap Why certification in Technical Communication?

 Localization Industry  Many contracts with customers from Technical Communication  But also many issues with these customers because of bad source texts  Translators and customers should be familiar with the basic requirements of Technical Communication Certification helps bridging the gap  Localization Companies Certification can be a new business activity Why certification in Technical Communication?

tekom certificates in TC

tekom‘s Certification System up to now  The tekom certification system has been established in the year 2003 for the German / Austrian market.  The system is based on 18 qualification modules. For the final examination  The first 4 modules are compulsory, 4 additional ones have to be chosen from the other 14 modules  Candidates have to write a theses and pass an oral exam  > 500 Technical Communicators have been certified since then.  8 training companies are accredited, now.  >150 certification examinations each year

tekom‘s Certification System in the future  The certification system will be transferred to the international market, starting in the year 2011  The procedures for the international market will be predominantly web-based  All contents will be in English  The procedures and contents for Germany / Austria will stay the same

tekom First Certificate Certification of basic skills for professionals working in the field of technical communication  Emphasis on relevant skills for the practise  Basic knowledge about the most important subject areas of technical communication  Good practical knowledge of the most important standards, methods and procedures in Technical Communication Easy preparation for the examination using the TCTrainingPlatform  Training in 8 qualification modules = 21 sub-modules  Over 120 training hours

Audience  Persons who are new in Technical Communication  Translators in the field of Technical Translations Prerequisites  None Deliverables  Work through the online training  Complete all exercises during the online training Examination  Complete an online examination  Pass an oral test tekom First Certificate

tekom Advanced Certificate Certification of enhanced skills and knowledge in Technical Communication  Certifies advanced skills in Technical Communication  Advanced knowledge about theories and concepts plus practical skills in methods and procedures  Enables independent work in Technical Communication Additional occupational training  Includes the (exemplary) development of an information product  Reflection on work  About 250 training hours

Audience  Employees in Technical Communication with formal qualification on First Level  Translators in the field of Technical Translation with formal qualification on First Level Prerequisites  tekom First Certificate plus preferably more than 2 years experience in Technical Communication or  completion of an equivalent training program tekom Advanced Certificate

Deliverables  Self-study of literature  Credit points acquired at one of our training partners’ courses and/or  Attending conferences Examination  Develop an example of an information product  Write a report on theories and methods applied  Pass a web-based examination tekom Advanced Certificate

tekom Trainer Certificate General  Specific skills in training of TC  Development of own course concepts for TC  Knowledge of the tekom certification program  Ability to guide trainees successfully through the program

Audience  Trainers in the field of Technical Communication  Trainers in the field of Translation  Trainers in the field of Engineering  Training bodies, who want to offer tekom certification (obligatory) Prerequisites  tekom Advanced Certificate and more than 2 years experience in Technical Communication or technical translation  Experience as a trainer tekom Trainer Certificate

Deliverables  Credit Points (seminars, self-study of literature) Examination  Developing of a training concept  Oral examination (web-based) tekom Trainer Certificate

The “TCTrainingPlatform“ Learning Management System (LMS)

Learning Contents  Based on the tekom qualification modules  The LMS includes 8 out of 18 qualification modules, including 21 sub- modules:  Module 1. Legal requirements and standards for technical communication  Module 2: Information development  Module 3: Structuring and standardisation  Module 4: Professional Writing  Module 7: Multilingual documentation and localization  Module 8: Terminology  Module 9: Design and visual appearance / lay-out  Module 11: Online documentation

Teaching and Training Methods Blended Learning Approach  Easy access to training  Training of people who are geographically widely dispersed in a relatively short time  Flexible learning regardless of location and time  Reduced journey times and travel costs / cost savings  Easy provision of teaching/learning material through the eLearning platform  Multiple use of media-edited learning materials  Opportunities for interaction and group work  Intensive support  Helpful to bridge intercultural gaps

Sneak preview into the LMS

The Pilot Project

Participants of the Pilot Project 2011/2012  15 Countries involved  16 Potential Training Partners  1 Potential Certification Partner  4 Universities (with 19 university staff persons)  9 individual Technical Writers (Test group)  59 persons participating in total

Goals of the Pilot Project  Testing of the TCTrainingPlatform  Knowledge Transfer  “Train the Trainer” for potential Training or Certification Partners  Knowledge transfer for the professors of our Partner Universities  Training for a test group  Intensify relationships with the different partners

“TCPartnersNet”

Two types of partners  Starts full operation in the second half of 2012

Two types of partners  Training Partners  Get a license to train persons who want to acquire the tekom certification on First Level or Advanced Level  Can sell the time-limited use of the TCTrainingPlatform to their customers for a maintenance fee (payable to tekom)  Can get their customers certified by the regional Certification Partner for a certification fee (payable to the CP)  Earn the training fees from their customers

Two types of partners  Certification Partners  Supervise certification examinations in the target countries  More information available on request

Partner Relationship  TCPartnersNet will operate like a franchise system  Partners will have to be accredited  tcworld and partner will the negotiate a partnership agreement (contract)  Partners can then in the position to market and sell the training courses in their region  Partners can choose between flexible rates per course depending on service levels

Support  tekom maintains the TCTrainingPlatform  tekom creates more contents for the TCTrainingPlatform  tekom creates and supervises the certifications  tekom employs permanent staff for the management of the accreditations, trainings, and certifications  Training Partners can offer tekom certification  Certification Partners are allowed to advertise that they are the only institution that runs tekom examinations in their region

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