Professional Standard and Estonian qualification system

1. Professional Standard and Estonian qualification system ECOLL project meeting 2-5 Nov 2005 Marianne Liiv

2. 1997 conception of qualification system was approved by Estonian Governmenttask to create employees qualification system was delegated to Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2000 Professions Act was passed 2001 Estonian Qualification Authority (Kutsekoda) was established

3. Estonian professional qualification system Resources People Money Time Professional councils Working groups Polls Professional qualifications committees Examination committees Examination centres Experts Specialists Coordinators Assistants Professional certificate Award of professional qualifications Training Curriculum Mapping of professions Working out and modernization of professional requirements Professional standard

4. Professional council Awarding body Employees Professional Associations Professional qualifications committee Employers Examination committee

5. Professional standard Decision to work out or renew professional standard Forms working groups, expert groups Approves professional standard Award of professional qualification Issues licence for the awarding body Confirms methods of awarding qualification Confirms the price of awarding qualification Carries out supervision Professional Council

6. Awarding Body Professional Qualifications Committee • Procedures and methods of awarding qualifications • Content and grading of professional exam • Calculation of price • Preparation of necessary documentation • Forming and training examination committees • Organising professional exams • Giving out professional certificates

7. Awarding Bodies • Estonian Association of Construction Entrepreneurs • Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association • Estonian Assistants Society • Estonian Traders Association • Association of Estonian Facilities Administrators and Maintenance Professionals • Federation of Estonian Engineering • Industry Estonian Plastics Association • Estonian Wooden Houses Association • Estonian Assembly of Accountants

8. Awarding Bodies 10. Estonian Information Technology Society 11. Estonian Association of Appraisers 12. Chamber of Real Property Brokers 13. Luua Forestry School 14. Tallinn Medical School 15. Estonian Association of Electrical Enterprises 16. Board of Border Guard 17. Association of Estonian International Road Carriers 18. Association Trust

9. Awarding Bodies 19. Estonian Gardening Union 20. Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union 21. Social Care Development Centre 22. Estonian Union of Psychologists 23. Estonian Farmers’ Federation 24. Estonian Union of Fishermen 25. Estonian Woodworking Federation 26. Estonian Logistics Association 27. Association of Estonian Adult Educators Andras

10. Professional Council 16 Professional Standard 450 Awarding Body 68 Professional Certificates 10250

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

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

13. 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

14. 5 levels Criteria Grade of know-how Grade of difficulty of work Grade of responsibility Qualification levels

15. Level I – an employee performs his or her duties in similar situations, has acquired the professional knowledge and skills mainly in the course of professional training, may need guidance during work, is responsible for the performance of his or her duties; Level II – an employee performs his or her duties in different situations, in addition to the knowledge and skills acquired mainly in the course of professional training has experience, works independently, is responsible for the performance of his or her duties; Level III – an employee performs his or her duties in different and changing situations, in addition to the knowledge and skills acquired mainly in the course of professional training is masterly, ready to pass on his or her professional skills and knowledge, organises the distribution of funds and the work of others and is responsible therefore;

16. Level IV – an employee performs duties requiring analysis and decision-making in changing situations, has professional knowledge and skills; organises the distribution of funds and the work of others and is responsible therefore; Level V – an employee performs duties requiring the expansion of knowledge, resolution of problems, application of scientific theories and definitions, analysis, systematisation and improvement of the existing knowledge and teaching in changing situations, has extensive professional knowledge and skills, organises the distribution of funds and the work of others and is responsible therefore.

17. Preparation and approval of professional standards • The proposal for the preparation of professional standards can be made by any enterprise, institution or other organisation and individual. • A draft of a professional standard shall be prepared on the basis of the professional council’s resolution. • An opinion poll shall be conducted in enterprises and institutions of the corresponding area of activity in order to introduce the draft of a professional standard. • Professional standards shall be approved by the resolution of a professional council. • A professional standard approved by the professional council shall be entered in the state register of professions.