I would not draw the same conclusions as you have as to the import of this
article. It seems to me it is saying that in Britain we have a snobbish
attitude towards vocational qualifications, which is why we have such a
disastrous technical skills shortage in this country.
I must say I don't share your perception that CILIP is obsessed with NVQs,
to the detriment of MAs. In my opinion, it is the skilled non-professional
e.g. Senior Library Assistant who has been the least well served in the past
by the Library Association, and I'm glad CILIP is now working in this area.
Catherine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Catherine Kimber
Collection Development Assistant Librarian
CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 0QX
Tel: +44 (0)1235 445006
Fax: +44 (0)1235 446403
-----Original Message-----
From: Emilce Rees [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 January 2003 12:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: NVQs and other "qualifications"
Given CILIP CDG's love affair with the NVQs (which are always mentioned
more than MAs are) for those who track the "utility" of vocational versus
academic qualifications this article is for us/you:
Strategic Market Research: a Study of Overseas Services
http://www.nfer.ac.uk/research/downloads/BTI.doc
" 3.2 Concerns and Weaknesses
· Some aspects of NVQ administration were perceived as bureaucratic
and UK consultants had designed strategies to deal with this. The
researchers recommend that strategies which emerge to deal with problems
should be evaluated, as they may lend themselves to adoption by other NVQ
users and enhance our capacity to offer services elsewhere
· The limited take-up of NVQs in the UK emerged as a potential
weakness. The appeal to overseas markets of a standard or qualification
which has a high take-up in its country of origin, sets a challenge for the
UK to continue to improve the marketing and domestic take-up of competence-
based qualifications"
"Another weakness identified by the research was the negative image of NVQs
presented in the UK press. There is an obvious need to publicise good
practice case studies of NVQs to overseas markets"
[in other words, it seems to me, they are "bad" qualifications to have, so
let's ship them abroad]
I look forward to NFER conducting the same type of evaluation of the
Chartership qualification (if this has been done, please let me know)
best
Emilce Rees
|