Occupational standards

Occupational standards

Katrin KeremEstonian Qualifications Authority

Occupational standard

• An occupational qualification standard is a document which describes occupational activities and provides the competency requirements for occupational qualifications on specific level.

Estonian Occupational Standard

• is based on the job analysis or functional analysis;

• describes expected competences as observable and assessable;

• defines the method(s) for assessing of persons’ competence;

• defines the EstQF level of the respective occupational qualification.

Proposal

• The proposal for the preparation of occupational qualification standards can be made by any enterprise, institution or other organisation and individual

Working out

• Occupational standard is prepared by a working group consisting of the experts in the given field.

• Working group members are appointed by the Sector Skills Council

• Kutsekoda organises the work of the working groups.

The process of developing OS

1. Mapping of economical field and occupations;

Job analysis

2. Identification of existing competency

standards

3. Compilation the OS

4. Opinion poll

5. Approval and publication of OS

7. Implementation of OS

and feedback

Mappig

• The objective of mapping is to create a complete picture that comprises people’s work-related activities, field of professional activity, subfield, and profession, as a basis for the catalogue of Estonian qualifications and prepare a occupational standard

• The basis of mapping is the International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO

Mapping (2)• I Stage - Mapping the occupations of an area of

activity, field of subfield by the main groups of ISCO, the output of which is a map of occupations.

• II Stage - Forming professions of related occupations, the output of which is a map of professions and possible occupational standards.

• III Stage – Job analyses – analysing the work and tasks of a field or a subfield by professions and levels of qualifications, the output of which is a map of units of work and tasks.

Identification of existing competency standards

• There are currently about 2100 competency units available in the register.

• Before proceeding to develop new competency unit, working group should look for appropriate competency unit that already exist.

Compilation the OS

OS is based on the job analysis or functional analysis and is made up by competency units;Working Group • describes expected competences as observable and

assessable;• defines the method(s) for assessing of persons’

competence;• defines the EstQF level of the respective

occupational qualification.

Opinion poll

• An opinion poll shall be conducted in enterprises & institutions of the corresponding area of activity in order to introduce the draft of an occupational qualification standard

Approving

• Occupational qualification standards shall be approved by sector skills councils.

• The approved occupational qualification standards are placed to the State register of occupational qualifications

Range of use the occupational standards

Occupational standard

Curricula, training

programs

Awarding of professional

qualifications, assessment of competencies

Compiling job descriptions,

recruit employees,

plan trainings

Information source for

getting to know the labour market, for

career planning

International comparison

and recognition of professional

qualifications and certificates

Occupational standard

• is the basis for developing curricula and training programmes that meet labour market needs

• is the basis for assessing the competencies • helps to compile job descriptions, recruit employees,

formulate professional guidelines and plan training• supports lifelong learning and career planning • helps to understand which competence is needed on

the labour market• is the basis for international comparison

Thank you!