International Recognition For Technologists - Sydney Accord
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR TECHNOLOGISTS
TAKES QUANTUM LEAP FORWARD
A major international agreement called the Sydney Accord has been recently signed by seven nations (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong-China, Ireland, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom). This agreement recognizes the substantial equivalence of the educational systems for engineering technologists in these countries.
From this solid educational base, engineering technologists develop the knowledge and skills necessary to translate engineering theory into practical applications. Engineering technologists are key professionals on the engineering team, which delivers high quality products and services to society.
The Sydney Accord will improve the mobility of engineering technologists between the signatory countries by enabling the regulatory authorities to easily identify that a consistent academic standard has been met.
The signatories took further steps to build on the Sydney Accord by agreeing to work toward the establishment of a subsequent agreement know as the Engineering Technologists’ Mobility Forum (ETMF). It is anticipated that the ETMF will provide for recognition of the experience component of an engineering technologist’s formation. It will also recognize practitioners who have attained professional competence through alternate routes.
Through the development of this Accord, the signatory countries have recognized the critical contribution made by engineering technologists to the global economy. This is a major milestone toward eliminating barriers to mobility faced by these professionals.
The above article has been reprinted from the Fall 2001 issue of TECH-CAN, the newsletter of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists. For more information, contact C. Charles Brimley, AscT, Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists at ccttadm@magma.ca or call (613)238-8123 or fax (613)238-8822.
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CERTIFICATION AS A TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
Technologists and technicians gain recognition of their academic and experiential qualifications through certification by the CTTAM. Certification as either a Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.), Certified Applied Science Technologist (A.Sc.T.), Certified Engineering Technician (C.Tech.) or a Certified Applied Science Technician (C.Tech.).
Certification means an individual meets national standards for education and work experience, follows a code of ethics and practice standards, is required to maintain technical competence and fulfills his or her work as a technology professional. Requirements include academic qualifications either as a technologist or a technician plus a minimum of two years progressive technical experience, as well as passing a professional practice exam.
Manitoba Hydro and Bristol Aerospace involved in a new and innovative approach to certify technicians and technologists!
The Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM), working in conjunction with Manitoba Hydro and Bristol Aerospace, is being funded by the Government of Manitoba (Employment and Training Services) to develop a rigorous, performance-based Prior Learning Assessment Recognition System (PLAR) as an alternative form of assessment for CTTAM certification of engineering and applied science technicians and technologists. The project will be close to completion at the end of the year and will offer a model for other accrediting/certifying agencies to develop a PLAR system.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a system for assessing an individual’s knowledge, skills and judgments against established competencies for a particular discipline.
Quality assessment is the key to PLAR and developing a credible and rigorous assessment process is integral to PLAR. The PLAR system is meticulously structured to identify, assess, and validate what an individual knows and can do compared to established standards of performance. The process is rigorous but fair. The general steps in developing a PLAR system are:
* the design and development of assessable, discipline-based learning outcomes;
* the design and development of assessment methods, procedures and evaluation criteria;
* the application of the above to eligible candidates;
This Prior Learning Assessment System will enable eligible individuals who have not attended Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB) accredited programs to have their relevant knowledge, skills and abilities assessed by qualified assessors against CTTAM standards for certification with CTTAM. This could apply to:
* Professional technicians and technologists who have acquired credentials from other countries or settings not currently recognized by CTTAM;
* Individuals who have acquired engineering and applied science knowledge, skills, and abilities through the workplace, and/or non-traditional or alternative education and training routes.
Overall, the project will evaluate occupations within 3 major disciplines: Electronic, Electrical and Manufacturing at both the technologist and technician level. The occupations within each of these disciplines have been identified as the most relevant to Manitoba Hydro and Bristol Aerospace.
These include:
* Instrumentation Technician
* Electrical Power Technician
* Electrical Industrial Technician
* Computer Technician
* Electronics Servicing Technician
* Electro- Mechanical Technician
* Manufacturing Engineering Technologist
* Mechanical Design Technologist
Employees at Manitoba Hydro and Bristol Aerospace will be involved in the project both as Subject Matter Experts, i.e., those determining the assessment criteria and as candidates requesting certification. For further information on the project or to get involved, please contact Guy Newman at the CTTAM office.
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NATIONAL outlook – A report from the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)
A Practical Guide to Working in the US under NAFTA
More and more Canadians are working in the United States on a temporary basis. As international trade barriers fall and Canadians practitioners and firms aggressively compete for applied-science and engineering-technology opportunities, technology practitioners are heading to the U.S. marketplace.
There are currently four major categories of business persons eligible to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis under NAFTA. These include business visitors, traders and investors, intra-company transferees and professionals. Most technicians and technologists find the professional category most relevant.
There are some general criteria which must be met, and an important list of documentation is needed if you plan to work as a professional under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
GENERAL CRITERIA
* Hold Canadian citizenship
* Be engaged in an occupation recognized by NAFTA (see Note 1)
* Meet educational requirements or have alternative credentials.
* Have a pre-arranged employment or contractual agreement with a U.S. employer. (Many technicians visit the U.S. as tourists to find work).
* Meet existing immigration requirements for temporary entry.
DOCUMENTATION FOR ENTRY
Practitioners who haven’t had some of the following information have been either denied for entry or been delayed for a long time. This is particularly inconvenient if you have an employer waiting in the U.S. It is therefore always better to be over-prepared when arriving at a U.S. point of entry to avoid disappointment.
You will require documentation that shows:
* The professional level of activity you will be undertaking, including you title and description of your job duties and how
you are needed in support of another professional. (See Note 2).
* The starting date and expected length of the temporary stay (up to a maximum of one year).
* Details of your remuneration arrangement.
* Licences that may be required by state or local laws.
* A Canadian passport. (This has not been required in the past but is very strongly encouraged.
Bear in mind that this information should be considered a guideline and if you require more complete details, we suggest you check out the U.S. Department of Commerce Web site called NAFTA FACTS at www.mac.doc.gov/nafta/menu1.htm; or call 800-872-8723 or (202) 482-4464.
Note 1: Under Appendix 1603.D.1 to NAFTA, the profession of Scientific Technician/Technologists is listed, with minimum education requirements and alternate credentials including "possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agriculture sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research."
Note 2: A provision to the entry of Scientific Technician/Technologist is "a business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to work in direct support of professionals in agriculture sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics."
A CCTT report reprinted from the July/August, 2001 issue of The Ontario Technologist.
CCTT is a federation of provincial professional associations and societies, representing the interests of engineering and applied science technicians and technologists across Canada. For information, visit Web site at www.cctt.ca or call (613) 238-8123
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CCTT TAKES ACTIVE ROLE IN INFRASTRUCTURE
The CCTT will be actively involved in the development of a National Guide to sustainable Municipal infrastructure. Through its relationship with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) the CCTT will have expert input into this project which will highlight "Innovations and Best Practices" for sustainable municipal infrastructure. The four year- multi-million dollar project is a collaborative effort between the FCM and the National Research Council (NRC) that will provide a road map to the best available solutions for addressing infrastructure issues. It will also be the focal point for a Canada-wide network of practitioners, researchers and municipal governments focussed on infrastructure operations and maintenance. Many decision-making processes used by municipalities or their providers of engineering services lack the comprehensive integration of environmental impacts and technology solutions required to balance infrastructure and environmental well-being.
"Best Practices" have been defined as state-of-the-art methodologies and technologies for municipal infrastructure planning, design, construction, management, assessment maintenance and rehabilitation that consider local economic, environmental and social factors.
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RRC TECH NEWS
The Integrated Science and Technology Access Program (ISTAP) commenced at Red River College on July 9, 2001 with 10 First Nations students. During the first year, the program provides some technical training in the Civil/CAD Technology field, academic training in foundation areas such as Math and Science, and aboriginal cultural experiences. Those students who successfully complete the first year in June, 2002, will enter first-year Civil/CAD Technology in September 2002 with transferable credits.
RRC, in partnership with the Manitoba Water and Wastewater Association and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, will be offering Association Boards of Certification (ABC) exam preparation courses in Water and Wastewater Treatment through the Civil/CAD Technology Department. These four-to-five day courses, designed to prepare municipal water and wastewater facility operators for the Class 1 and Class 2 exams, will be held throughout October, 2001
Applicants may also challenge exams in September, 2001. Inquiries should be directed to 204 - 632-3017.
The new Haas Automation Inc. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment has now been installed in the machine shop at RRC. A graduate Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) student, Tim Millar, led the shop floor layout project as part of his final MET project. A number of other machines were relocated to accommodate program requirements as well as to provide a home area for the new Haas Technical Training Centre. The official opening for the Technical Training Centre is being planned for early October.
The Council on Post-Secondary Education (COPSE) has approved the introduction of a Precision Metal Manufacturing (PMM) program at RRC under the auspices of the Mechanical, Manufacturing and Communication Department. This 40-week program will incorporate a Manufacturing Fundamentals block with a Precision
Metal Fabrication block. Students may exit the program after 20 weeks with entry-level general manufacturing training. The program is considered necessary to address a need for over 200 PMM graduates over the next five years, and to provide opportunities for upgrade training for workers currently in the industry.
After detailed analysis, decisions have been made that will see some of the components of the Electronics Engineering Technology programs moving to the new Princess Street Campus probably by September 2003. If all goes as planned, the Princess Street Campus will deliver a common first year of Electronics technology as well as the second year of Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, and Communications Engineering Technology. The second year of the Electrical Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering Technology programs will remain at the Notre Dame Campus