This is the first in a series of articles, which I will provide on a bi-monthly basis to update everyone on events within the Transportation industry.
To begin with, I would like to inform you of one of the projects within CAMC which may be of interest to you. It’s called ‘Prior Learning and Foreign Credential Assessment and Recognition System’ or (PLFCAR).
The Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council’s (CAMC) Prior Learning and Foreign Credential Assessment and Recognition System (PLFCAR) is built on integrating two key processes: Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR).
The theory behind Prior Learning Assessment is rather simple: much of what we learn is not taught in a classroom. There are alternative ways to gain knowledge, skills and experience beyond formal education and training. This doesn’t mean that traditional learning should be discounted. The goal of Prior Learning Assessment is not to replace proven methods of education and training but to recognize and give credit to the learning that has been acquired by other means.
Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) follows a similar line of thinking as both processes have the common objective of offering an accurate assessment of an individual’s skills and competencies. FCR evaluates the credentials issued by an international training institution, and measures them against the standards held by industry-recognized educational institutions. FCR is really a comparison between the expected learning outcomes of programs offered at foreign institutions compared to those of a Canadian training organization. Foreign Credential Recognition draws conclusions about the level of equivalence between the skills, knowledge and capabilities of the graduates from each learning source.
How will a PLFCAR System help our Industry?
The benefits to the aviation and aerospace industry are obvious. No longer will a Canadian employer feel at risk each time they receive a résumé from a foreign applicant or a Canadian applicant, whose career experience is outside of the country or the trade. The system will allow the employer to be confident that a technician has the skills, knowledge and competencies to do the job, based on industry defined standards. Both the employer and the worker will be able to specifically target skills-upgrading programs as the need arises.
For IAMAW members there are also many advantages. Laid off members experiencing a downfall within their trade can use this system to find out what skills and education are required to switch to another trade and even find out what part of the country is experiencing a boom and which companies are hiring in their new trade. For members who wish to better themselves and upgrade their skills in a new occupation, this tool will allow them to do the same thing so that they can be successful in their new career.
DND personnel working in the Air Force who are about to end their career and enter the Canadian workforce will benefit greatly as well. With their vast training and experience gained during their service with DND, these technicians will be able to understand how they can fit into the aviation world and what additional training may be required to be successful in their new career.
Educational institutions in Canada and abroad will also benefit since they will be able to measure their own courses and training quality against the PLFCAR results, and adjust their own materials and processes accordingly. Educational institutions will also be able to develop a wide selection of modular training units from which Canadian or newly immigrated technicians can pick and choose courses that will provide specifically what they need in their skills portfolio.
It’s expected that this system will be up and running in 2007 as it’s still in the development stages.
If you require more information please contact me at cdacosta@iamaw.org or check CAMC’s website at www.camc.ca.
Carlos DaCosta
Airline Coordinator,
IAMAW, Canada
