Hi Folks,
Last night's Career Development Group AGM featured an interesting talk from Marion Huckle (from CILIP's Membership, Careers & Qualifications Department) about the new Framework of Qualifications, including the new chartership and revalidation processes.
Marion mentioned how CILIP has more clout and standing within the general information & IT sector than either the old LA or IIS, which may lead to accrediting courses within less traditional LIS areas, such as KM or project management.
She summarised the research process which lead to an interim report on the new Framework. This included an evaluation of previous research, the examination of what's currently being taught in LIS Departments, consulting with employers, and looking at job descriptions. The interim report has only just been delivered, and it will go through a consultation process involving focus groups etc. The draft will then go to CILIP Council at the end of 2002. CILIP are very keen to hear members views, so we will get a chance to have our say, but the Framework needs to be ready for Council at the end of 2003. The Framework will be promoted during 2004, and go live in January 2005.
2005 seems a long way off, and at present ideas for the revalidation are not fixed. The Framework should integrate academic qualifications, work experiences and CPD, and would allow us to gain experience in areas that aren't necessarily covered by our workplace job descriptions. Marion was keen to stress that most of us undertake CPD anyway, so we would be getting recognition and credit for training we already do. Assessment methods are still to be decided. Revalidation would be voluntary, and probably every 5 years (though we don't know yet if this will be 5 years from 2005, or 5 years from the date of charter), and could work as a certificate of fitness to practice. Employers may become accredited trainers.
Marion mentioned both the Australian & American Library Associations chartering & revalidation processes, and I've taken a look at the Aussie one which offers CPD membership, including career development kits & CPD recording sheets.
http://www.alia.org.au/education/cpd/
So plenty to think about there. I think revalidatation will be a good thing, and if I had known when I chartered that revalidation would be around the corner, I certainly wouldn't have taken so long to get around to it. I did ask Marion if she thought that the new Framework would raise salary levels in the profession, but at this point, who knows? Hopefully the Framework will raise our profile, anyway.
Rowena
Rowena Macrae-Gibson,
Subject Liaison Librarian (Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences)
Brunel University Library
Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH
Tel: 01895 274000 ext. 2788
Fax: 01895 203263
E-mail [log in to unmask]
|
