Mining for Credentials: Using PLAR to Recognize, Empower and Enable a Workforce

1. Barbara Kirby MIHR Grant MacTavish SIAST Barbara Kirby MIHR Grant MacTavish SIAST Mining for Credentials: Using PLAR to Recognize, Empower and Enable a Workforce CAEL International Conference 2010

2. Workshop Overview Background on the Canadian mining workforce and labour force challenges. Overview of mine worker credentialing initiative An industry-college partnership. Initial development of PLAR processes for mine workers. Pilot initiative in New Brunswick. Ongoing delivery of credentialing services.

3. Overview of the Initiative Goal to recognize and certify the knowledge skills and abilities of mine workers to increase their job site mobility. Align college curriculum with industry occupational standards. Certify mine workers against established industry competencies/college credit. Identify gaps and customize training.

4. Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) A provincial college with four campuses. Provide one year certificate programs and two year diploma programs. 1,800 faculty and staff. 12,000 fulltime students. 25,000 partime course registrants. Underground mining certificate program.

5. Mining Industry Human Resource Council (MIHR) • National sector council for the mining industry. • Directed by a board representative of the sector. • Informed by over 100 industry representatives. • Funded by Canadian government to • identify national HR challenges and opportunities for the Canadian mining sector • create national solutions through collaboration, partnership and synergy

6. Challenges in Canadian Mining Labour Market

7. The Canadian Mining Industry • Total workforce over 216,000. • Industry presence in 9 of 10 provinces and 3 territories. • Fifty percent of workers have post secondary credentials. • Aging workforce • 40% over 45 years of age • approx 35% eligible for retirement in less than 5 years

8. Mining Industry HR Challenges • Mining industry needs to hire around 100,000 workers by 2020. • Attraction and retention of talent in all occupations. • Mobility of skilled workers between mine sites. • 70 percent of employers expect to have labour shortages over the next 5 years. • Largest shortages • physical sciences and engineering occupations • trades and “undesignated” occupations

9. “Undesignated” Occupations • More than 20,000 workers will be needed by 2020 in the undesignated occupations and another 11,500 tradespersons. • Turnover rate for trades and undesignated occupations at mines is high: 8.3% compared to 4.3 % for all other occupations. • There is no system to recognize the skills of high-demand undesignated occupations.

10. Background The previous system did not have a consistent process for documenting the skills of the workers in undesignated occupations. Historically training was primarily non-formal and “site-based.” On average a worker in these occupations will work at 7 mines in their career – often having to start at the bottom when going to a new site. There was not a consistent alignment between college training programs and national occupational standards.

11. A Sectoral Approach Certifying Mine Workers through PLAR Processes • Workers in the Canadian mining industry have not historically had their skills recognized through credentials. • The mining industry developed standards for three occupational groupings: • Hardrock underground miners • Surface miners • Mineral process operators

12. Vision To increase recognition of skills and competencies, support worker mobility and create consistent, quality training. Strategy • Occupational analysis and standards • Certification of workers • Accreditation of training

13. Certification Program Mission Create a credential that will • be recognized by employers across the country. • facilitate the transition of workers from one workplace to another. • document the skills, competencies and knowledge of workers in undesignated occupations. • help retain these workers within the industry by giving recognition for demonstrated competency.

14. Developing a Plan The new model needed to provide a means to document ongoing skill development as well as log skills previously developed through experiential learning. Support from post secondary institutions and the mining industry through MIHR. Funding was sought from stakeholders and key government departments.

15. The Strategy The model was designed for a “skills passport” documentation specifically for undesignated mining occupations. Assessment of prior learning needed to be based on nationally established occupational standards. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition needed to be rigorous and consistent with accepted practice.

16. Pilot Project Two undesignated occupations were selected for development. Selected pilot site was a mine in New Brunswick slated for decommissioning within two years. Partner institutions were selected. SIAST was selected to design the PLAR model.

17. A Partnership Between

18. The Plan CCNB Bathurst took a lead role in developing the PLAR assessments. SIAST provided the model for developments, PLAR expertise, guidance and support during the development. Continued…

19. The Plan continued… SIAST and Aurora provided curriculum. Xstrata Mining provided the content expertise, testing site and personnel. MIHR provided coordination and funding.

20. Alignment of Occupational Standards with Course Outcomes • Introduction to Radiation Safety (MINE 153) • This course introduces you to sources of ionizing, radiation, atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, the radioactive decay chain, types of ionizing radiation, protection methods, monitoring methods, exposure limits, and regulatory reporting procedures. • Describe properties of radiation • Explain effects of ionizing radiation • Describe safety and monitoring requirements • Ore Movement II (MINE 158) • Building on the knowledge and skills from MINE 142 this course will introduce you to the safety procedures and skills to operate additional types of track and tramming ore handling equipment (slushers, mucking machines and ore trucks). • Describe how muck is moved from various work headings to the surface of a mine • Identify how muck size and flow are controlled • Describe causes, and prevention of ore pass hang- ups • Describe the causes and methods of preventing a run-of-muck • Identify parts of an ore truck • Demonstrate a pre-operational inspection of an ore truck • Demonstrate how to safely operate an ore truck • Radiation Safety • C1 Understanding Radiation • Identify sources of natural ionizing radiation. • Describe atoms, electrons, protons, and neutrons. • Describe isotopes, radioactive decay, and half life. • Describe alpha, beta, and gamma radiation • Introduction to Muck Handling • C1 Moving Muck Underground • Describe how muck is moved from various work headings to surface in the mine. • Identify how muck size and muck flow are controlled in the underground much handling systems. • Describe the causes, and methods of prevention, for ore pass hang-ups. • Identify safe procedures for barring down a hang-up. • Describe the causes and methods of prevention, for a run-of-muck.

21. Introduction to Radiation Safety (MINE 153) • This course introduces you to sources of ionizing, radiation, atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, the radioactive decay chain, types of ionizing radiation, protection methods, monitoring methods, exposure limits, and regulatory reporting procedures. • Describe properties of radiation • Explain effects of ionizing radiation • Describe safety and monitoring requirements • Ore Movement II (MINE 158) • Building on the knowledge and skills from MINE 142 this course will introduce you to the safety procedures and skills to operate additional types of track and tramming ore handling equipment (slushers, mucking machines and ore trucks). • Describe how muck is moved from various work headings to the surface of a mine • Identify how muck size and flow are controlled • Describe causes, and prevention of ore pass hang- ups • Describe the causes and methods of preventing a run-of-muck • Identify parts of an ore truck • Demonstrate a pre-operational inspection of an ore truck • Demonstrate how to safely operate an ore truck • Radiation Safety • C1 Understanding Radiation • Identify sources of natural ionizing radiation. • Describe atoms, electrons, protons, and neutrons. • Describe isotopes, radioactive decay, and half life. • Describe alpha, beta, and gamma radiation • Introduction to Muck Handling • C1 Moving Muck Underground • Describe how muck is moved from various work headings to surface in the mine. • Identify how muck size and muck flow are controlled in the underground much handling systems. • Describe the causes, and methods of prevention, for ore pass hang-ups. • Identify safe procedures for barring down a hang-up. • Describe the causes and methods of prevention, for a run-of-muck.

22. National Occupational Standards (NOS) Standards CertificationRequirements Pre-employment Programs Occupation Specific Programs Industry Approved Training Programs TrainingProgramRequirements Accreditation Overview Ongoing Skills Development andDocumentation Skills and Competencies of Worker On-The-Job Existing Workforce and Experienced Miners New Hires Level 1& 2Certification Certification Certification Evaluation Process Accreditation Process NOS Development, Maintenance and Revision Process

23. Completed deliverables included: • PLAR assessor guide(s) for each course. • Candidate information guide. • Candidate action plan.

24. Evidence File/Portfolio • Authentic Assessment • employer validations • job descriptions • resume • performance evaluations • letters of recommendation • workplace training/professional development

25. Accomplishments of Pilot Post Secondary training program outcomes aligned with occupational standards. PLAR assessment tools developed for two occupations. Assessors trained in conducting PLAR assessments. Pilot assessments conducted with over 125 miners.

26. Pilot Stage Two • Pilot sites in six more sites across Canada • BC 3 • NWT 1 • Manitoba 1 • Ontario 1 • Brunswick Mine 1

27. Recognition for Experiential Learning PLAR process • Builds confidence of candidates through performance based assessments. • Recognizes the skills of workers. • Maintains integrity of mining credentials. • Provides consistency across the industry.