Estonian employees qualification system

1. Estonian employees qualification system Piret Lilleväli Turin Nov 2004

2. In the wind of change • Globalisation • Rapid changes in economical structure • New materials, technologies and implements • Higher requirements to the work quality • Higher requirements to the work efficiency

3. In the wind of change Problems: • Lack of qualified labour force • Structural unemployment • Employees knowledge and skills don’t correspond to the real needs of labour market • changed competences • new competences • Employers discontent with training content of training vs. real needs of labour market

4. 1997 conception of qualification system was approved by Estonian Government. Task to create employees qualification system was delegated to Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

5. Professions ActPassed 19 December 2000 Entered into force 19 January 2001 Directive 89/48/EEC of the Council of the European Communities (OJ L 019, 24/01/1989) has been taken into account in drafting of this Act This Act provides the bases • for the development of the requirements for professional qualifications • the conditions and procedure for the assessment and award of professional qualifications

6. Estonian Qualification Authority(Kutsekoda) was established 31.08.2001 Founders – employees, employers, state • Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry • Estonian Confederation of Employers and Industry • Estonian Employees’ Unions’ Confederation • Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions • Ministry of Social Affairs • Administrative field - Ministry of Education and Science

7. Goal of the qualification system • Competitive labour force in Estonia • Ordered labour market • Education politics which supports economic development

8. Principles of the system • SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP – employer, employee and the state - three parties of the labour market • Creation, implementation and development of the qualification system is a PROCESS • Qualification system is a quality system

9. Principles of the system • Measurable qualifications • Common and comparable measuring system • Assessment is based on actual skills and knowledge • Flexible and optimal training system, witch considers labour market needs • Motivation for life-long learning

10. European dimension Free movement of persons Mutual recognition and transparency of professional qualifications Basis in the field of non-regulated professions is Estonian employees qualification system

11. Estonian employees qualification system in a nutshell Resources People Money Time Professional councils Working groups Polls Professional qualifications committees Examination committees Examination centres Experts Specialists Coordinators Assistants Assessment and awarding of professional qualification Professional certificate Training Curriculum Mapping of professions. Working out and modernization of occupational requirements Professional standard

12. The way to the mastery Awarding of professional qualifications Professional cerificate Training Curriculum Working out and modernization of occupational requirements Professional standard

13. Professional Council 15 AwardingBody 50 Employees Professional Associations Professional Qualifications Committee 67 Employers ExaminationCommittee

14. Professional councilsare formed on the basis of statistical classification of economic fields in Estonia, what basis on NACE (Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community) There are 15 professional councils formed by the Estonian Government

15. Professional councils 1. Financial services and other businessactivities 2. Construction, real estate and geomatics 3. Services 4. Wood industry 5. Health care and social work 6. Light industry 7. Metal, machinery and apparatus production 8. Food industry and agriculture

16. Professional councils 9. Transport and logistics 10. Energy, mining and chemistry 11. Information technology andtelecommunications 12. Engineers 13. Justice and internal security 14. Folk-art and handicraft 15. Culture

17. Professional qualification The level of competence required in a given profession: the requirements for the knowledge, skills, experience, values and personal characteristics

18. Methods of assessment of professional qualifications • Written exam or oral exam • Practical exam • Assessment on the basis of documents, portfolio method • Combination of previous methods

19. Professional standard Is a document specifying the requirements for the knowledge, skills, experience, values and personal characteristics arising from professional qualifications

20. 5 levels Criteria Grade of know-how Grade of difficulty of work Grade of responsibility Qualification levels

21. Scope of application of the professional standard Specification of qualification requirements of employees • Working out curricula, training programs • Working out examination requirements, certification and assessment of professional qualification • Providing a basis for comparing the documents certifying international qualification

22. Content of professional standard • Professional qualification - indicates professional knowledge and skills • Social qualification – indicates skills and knowledge providing ability for coping with work life and help to adapt oneself to changes in the society work life • Personality qualification – indicates personal characteristics and abilities required from the employee

23. Ratified professional qualifications 422

24. The field of use of professional standards • Determination of employees qualification requirements • Basis for working out curricula • Basis for working out requirements for awarding professional qualification • Basis for comparison of documents, which prove international qualification

25. Award of professional qualifications Process • the person certifies his/her vocational and professional level of competence • Examination Committee assesses its compliance with the professional qualification applied for • Awarding Body issues a professional certificate

26. Award of professional qualifications Principles • is voluntary, unless otherwise prescribed by law • professional examination is for a fee • takes place on the basis of persons application • assessment is apart from teaching * • competence - based approachbases for assessment of professional qualification are real skills and knowledge, irrespective of the ways of learning

27. Awarding Body – those entitled to applay For an activity licence for the grant of professional qualifications may apply: legal persons in private law or legal persons in public law or agencies whose activities include the development of the corresponding professional activity or corresponding vocational, professional and occupational training

28. Awarding Body – basic requirements • the body must have the means and a sufficient number of employees • professional qualifications committee must be formed • the body must be able to act independently, in a competent, impartial and non-discriminatory manner • the body must meet other requirements provided by legislation • 50 activity licenses are given for the award of professional qualificationsby the Professional Councils

29. Awarding Body – main tasks • 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

30. Professional Qualifications Committee Professional qualifications committees must be formed of the representatives of employees employers and professional associations The aim of professional qualifications committee is to assess and develop the professional knowledge and skills of employees

31. Methods of assessment of professional qualifications • Written exam or oral exam • Practical exam • Assessment on the basis of documents, portfolio method • Combination of previous methods

32. Professional exam • Requirements of the professional exam correspond to the requirements of the professional standard • Content and procedures of the exam are similar • Content of the professional exam opens the nature of professional skills – written, oral, practical exam or portfolio method • Methods of attestation of professional qualifications are in compliance with different needs of qualification levels

33. Professional exam • Content and procedures of the professional exam are public and available • Attestation is apart from teaching • Valuator is independent, well educated examination commission • Examination results are comparable • Professional certificate – comprehensive source for employer • Professional certificate = acknowledgment

34. Professional certificate • a professional certificate is a documentcertifying professional qualifications • the statute, format and procedure for the issue of professional certificates is established by the Government of the Republic • professional certificates must be registered by the Awarding Body in the register of professions 3516 professional certificatesare issued by the Awarding Bodies

36. Professional certificates 1998 - 2004 1998 0 199933 200024 2001144 2002 229 2003911 2004 1956 3297

37. Professional standards1998 - 2004 preparationreprocessing 1998 9 0 1999 38 0 2000 61 5 2001 85 8 2002 77 17 2003 61 35 2004 45 61

38. Awarding Bodies 1998 - 2004 AB 1998 0 1999 0 2000 0 2001 1 2002 11 2003 20 2004 50

39. National Professions Register Professional Councils Professional standards Awarding Bodies Professional certificates www.kutsekoda.ee

40. State Competitive labour force • Evaluation and planning of human resources on state level • Assuring the quality of labour force • Directing resources into training more efficiently

41. Employer Competitive labour force = success in market • Professional standard – tool for job descriptions • Professional certificate – tool in recruitment process • Comparability of qualification • Help for planning training • Basis for motivation and wage system

42. Employee Good skills = good job • Raising “market value” • Security by professional certificate • Planning career and development • Clearness about existent and missing skills • Advantage in European Union

43. Concerned parties involved in recognition of foreign qualifications

44. Tomorrow’s opportunities!