Assessing Skills through CompetencyBased Approaches Nuzhat Jafri Executive
“Assessing Skills through Competency-Based Approaches” Nuzhat Jafri, Executive Director Workforce One-Stop 2012, Conference Board of Canada Metro Toronto Convention Centre April 25, 2012 Office of the fairness commissioner
Office of the Fairness Commissioner: Introduction • Regulatory agency of Government of Ontario • Opened 2007 • Ensures that regulated professions have transparent, objective, impartial and fair licensing • Oversees 40 regulatory bodies for professions • Commissioner is Hon. Jean Augustine, PC, CM Office of the fairness commissioner 2
Office of the Fairness Commissioner: Introduction • Regulatory bodies – Health and non-health – 790, 000 members – 14 percent internationally trained • Commissioner’s role – Assess licensing practices – Recommend changes – Monitor improvement Office of the fairness commissioner 3
Assessments • Types – Degree equivalency – Occupation-specific – Prior learning – Examinations – Competency Office of the fairness commissioner 4
Competency Assessment • Definition: A competency based assessment process determines what an individual knows and can do. • Used by post-secondary institutions, regulatory bodies for professions • May be useful to understand expertise of internationally trained people • Research shows that competency assessment often refers to the same process as ‘prior learning assessment’ Office of the fairness commissioner 5
Competency Assessment • Purposes – To help identify educational/learning needs – To provide feedback on how a person is progressing – To assess performance – To decide whether someone has achieved competency through informal or formal means Office of the fairness commissioner 6
Competency Assessment • How does it work? – Does not necessarily replace assessment of credentials – May include: • Written exam • Portfolio • Self-assessment • Demonstration • Oral questioning – Must include more than one tool – Should involve comprehensive training for assessors – Must include clear communication with applicants Office of the fairness commissioner 7
Competency Assessment • Ontario regulatory bodies – 20 of 38 professions report they use it – Use a variety of approaches: • Single examination • Verified practice in the profession • Formal program, e. g. , residency or bridging program – May or may not be competency assessment Office of the fairness commissioner 8
Competency Assessment • Alberta example – ‘Substantially Equivalent Competency’ (SEC) Assessment – For internationally educated nurses – At Mount Royal University, Calgary • Steps – Nurse applies to regulatory body for initial assessment of transcripts – Regulator refers 75 % of internationally educated nurses to SEC – SEC uses multiple assessment tools in a comprehensive and structured approach Office of the fairness commissioner 9
Competency Assessment • Research themes – The literature cites a need for more research. – Multiple assessment methods should be used. – Assessors must be highly trained. – Clear, timely communication with applicants is necessary. – Organizations must assure the quality of their assessments. – Competency assessment is costly for organizations and lengthy for applicants. Office of the fairness commissioner 10
Competency Assessment • More information – Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment. Assessing the Skills and Competencies of Internationally Trained Immigrants: A Manual for Regulatory Bodies, Employers and Other Stakeholders ISBN 978 -0 -9781782 -1 -5 Office of the fairness commissioner 11
Contact: www. fairnesscommissioner. ca Office of the fairness commissioner 12
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