A point to challenge people on, does the value that you place on the training that you require come above or below the value of the communication/engagement activities that you charge others (or if it is free to the user, the cost that the activity requires to put on)?
I think this disparity is based on a perception that the qualification/ certification may become a requirement, rather than that the training itself is a valuable commodity. A fair point given that many people have been involved in science communication for many years. It's hard to see how a 5 day course would teach much to someone with 20 years experience. It's essential that any scheme has some way of recognising this experience rather than just providing a piece of paper showing attendance on a short course.
James Piercy
Science Communicator
Science Made Simple Ltd (East)
303 Dereham Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR2 3TJ
tel 07709968590
bookings tel 02920 876 884
www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk
On 6 Aug 2010, at 09:59, Bruce Etherington wrote:
Some interesting stuff here Dom, one thing that occurs to me from the data is that the "preferred" length of course and the preferred costs lead to some potentially quite low daily rates. Is there any correlation between the length of course preferred and the costs people are prepared to pay? I would expect this to be the case and it would be useful to show what people are prepared to pay for the different lengths/depths of course
A point to challenge people on, does the value that you place on the training that you require come above or below the value of the communication/engagement activities that you charge others (or if it is free to the user, the cost that the activity requires to put on)?
Secondly, how important is qualification rather than certification? If a set of training courses/skills development porfolio is agreed as an "industry standard" then the need for examination is not necessarily required. Running qualifications takes ahuge amount of administrative work, especially if being delivered by different organisations and individuals and as part of a tailored personal approach (not least in the work required for quality assurance). I am not saying that quaifications are not important, but that there is additional value and costs associated with that route that may not be necessary if the qualification element is not important to the 'industry'.
Bruce
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