1. Description and validation/assessment process of competences Milja Merirand

2. Estonian Qualifications Authority Functions Developing professional qualifications system Organising work of Professional Councils and working groups (developing professional standards) Providing counselling and assistance for Awarding Bodies (awarding professions) Co-operation with education and training institutions Maintaining state register of professions Organising the work of National Europass Centre

3. Professional qualifications system Main processes are: Development of professional standards Awarding of professional qualifications

4. Types of occupational qualifications Primary level occupational qualifications – educational qualifications which deliver readiness to enter the labour market and are linked to: – qualifications of vocational education – qualifications of higher education oriented towards professional activity Occupational qualifications (so-called sectoral qualifications) which prove occupational competence. Qualifications are used for the development and assessment of competences of people who are active participants in the labour market.

5. Competency cycle Tasks Profes- sional stan- dards Stan- dard curri- cula Curri- cula AssessmentValidation Qualification awarding Profes- sional certifi- cates LABOURMARKETLABOURMARKET LEARNINGLEARNING Com- peten- cies Expected competencies PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS SYSTEM Actual competencies

6. Professional Councils Cooperation between professional councils coordinates a body of chairmen of professional councils. 1. Business Services and other Business Activities 2. Construction, Real Estate and Geomatics 3. Service 4. Forestry 5. Health Care and Social Work 6. Light Industry 7. Engineering, Metal and Machine Industry 8. Food Industry and Agriculture 9. Transport and Logistics 10. Energy, Mining and Chemical Industry 11. Information Technology and Telecommunication 12. Engineers 13. Justice and Internal Security 14. Folk Art and Handicraft 15. Culture 16. Education There are 16 professional councils formed by the Estonian Government... are formed on the basis of statistical classification of economic fields in Estonia.

7. Professional Council representatives of employees, employers and professional associations of the same area of professional activity and the representatives of the state Professional standard Decision to work out or renew professional standard Forms working groups, expert groups Approves professional standards Award of professional qualification Issues licence for the awarding body Confirms methods of awarding qualification Confirms the price of awarding qualification Carries out supervision

8. Professional standard - 700 standards A professional standard is a document which describes professional activities and provides the competency requirements for professional qualifications and their levels. The proposal for the preparation of professional standards can be made by any enterprise, institution or other organisation and individual. Professional standard is prepared by a working group consisting of the experts in the given field. Professional standard is made up by partial qualifications (modules) An opinion poll shall be conducted in enterprises & institutions of the corresponding area of activity in order to introduce the draft of a professional standard Professional standards shall be approved by professional councils. The approved professional standards are placed to the State register of professions

9. Competence based professional standard Components of a standard Part A DESCRIPTION OF PROFESSION (work areas and professional titles, aim of work, description of level, activities and duties, operating environment and its specialty, means of work, abilities and personal traits, professional education) Part B COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS Part C GENERAL INFORMATION Job tasks ActivitiesCompetences OUTCOMEOUTCOME GOALOF JOBGOALOF JOB

10. Describing competences in Professional Standards Functional mapping and job analysis to define core tasks and activity processes of a work Each part of a work will be correlated with competence matrix that based on SHL competencies (general/social competencies) Selection of 5-9 most significant competencies Job tasks are written in terms of competencies: knowledge, skills (assessable performance criteria) and responsibility and independence

11. Examples of description of competencies (2008) Roofer I Safe covering, fastening and loading of stored materials Knowledge: 1.harmful effects of weather on materials, 2.risks caused by wind load, 3.the storage and preservation conditions for stored materials Performance criteria: 1. Covers the materials to prevent the harmful effects of the weather: selects and uses suitable cover materials, takes into account any changes in the weather. 2. Fastens or loads the materials to prevent any movement as a result of wind or other factors: determine the necessity of fastening or loading, use appropriate methods for fastening and loading

12. Examples of description of competencies (2008) Potter I Design and planning Knowledge: 1.the principles of design work, 2.standards EVS 812-3 "Fire safety of constructions - Part 3: Heating systems (hereinafter EVS 812-3). Performance criteria: 1.perform heating technical calculations of the planned room heater, measure, under supervision, the volume of the room, specify, under supervision, the material, mass and capacity of the stove, 2.calculated and select the required materials according to the standard EVS 812-3 "Fire safety of constructions - Part 3: Heating systems (hereinafter EVS 812-3) or manufacturer's instructions, 3.calculate the estimated period of work, 4.perform the tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

13. Awarding of professional qualifications... is the assessment of conformity of the professional competence of a person applying for a professional qualification with the requirements specified in the professional standard. Principles competence based approach: bases for assessment of professional qualification are real skills and knowledge, irrespective of the ways of learning is voluntary, unless otherwise prescribed by law assessment is separated and independent from teaching takes place on the basis of person's application professional examination is for a fee

14. Awarding of professional qualifications Professional Councils 16 Activity licenses, supervision Kutsekoda Methologie, counselling, supervision Register of Professions Awarding Bodies 86 Development of professional area, procedures, giving out professional certificates Professional Qualifications Committee 150 Recognition of Examinaotion Centres Content and grading of professional exam Assessment Commitees

15. Awarding Body A professional council decides on giving the rights of a awarding body Functions: – to develop and approve the procedure for the assessment and award of professional qualifications – to establish and approve the calculation of costs related to the issue of professional certificates – to organize professional exams – to issue professional certificates

16. Professional Qualifications Committee Formed by the awarding body To ensure impartiality, committees consist of the parties interested in awarding professions in the given field: specialists, employees, employers, trainers, representatives of professional associations The aim of professional qualifications committee is to –prepare the procedure for awarding –decide on the form and manner for assessment –approve the instructions for the assessment and the examination materials –decide on awarding or refusing to award profession to the person –resolve the complaints –appoint, if necessary, assessment committee(s)

17. Documents for awarding process The procedure for awarding Assessment / validation guideline (assessment criteria) The procedure of examination Examination materials and questions

18. Methods of attestation of professional qualifications work observation – at workplace, simulated the evaluation of work results and outcomes – artefacts, documents interview – oral questioning, behavioural interview written test self evaluation – description and analysis of work experience peer evaluation – employer, co-worker, client case study portfolio

19. Professional cerificate 48 766 professional certificates are issued by the Awarding Bodies 2 June 2010

20. Certificate supplement The propose is to give additional information to the information presented in the Professional Certificate Certificate Supplement is not valid without a Professional Certificate

21. State register of professions Professional Councils Professional Standards Awarding Bodies Professional Certificates www.kutsekoda.ee

22. Thank you!