New IFA membership procedure & updated Handbook

[mercenary]

I've caught on to this thread late, but find it of interest.

I applied to become an NVQ assessor last November and was told my name would be added to a list for induction early in 2008. Since then, nothing.

I assumed that there were teething problems getting it all going, but now I'm starting to wonder. I'd be getting paranoid that I wasn't up to scratch, but I do already have a background in training of archaeological techniques. I'd just like to formalize my skills, and help others to do the same.

So I too am interested in the answers to the questions posed by hosty.

[BAJR Host]

I do know of other assessors who are still waiting to hear. It seems funny to launch an exciting initiaitve with no info about where to do it, how to do it, who the assessors are, how much it will cost, what subsidies are available.

I am sure that Kate will be able to come up with the answers.. and then ... I hope.... we can get behind this.

You can be my assessor anytime Merc

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[BAJR Host]

your welcome... I thought if I pulled it al together and asked what we all need to know it would alow the IFA to provide the answers that we all ask. I am sure Kate will be able to provide these answers... as they are pertinant to the whole scheme

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[oldgirl]

I find myself in a cleft stick on this one. I appreciate that many people find the validation process for IFA intimidating and opaque and so therefore do not even attempt to join. However, at present many people who have not had intimate contact with the development of the NVQ system (and mine has only been peripheral, but at least I have had some access to it over the years)are also staring at a brick wall because the details are hard to understand. Plus, the people that the NVQ might assist in applying for IFA membership are not yet members and so have not had access to the information about the development of this project

Personally, I need to actually see how something is actually going to work in practice to feel confidence in it.

There is also another potential problem in my view. The NVQ and the National Occupation Standards (NOS) were not developed in order to meet the validation criteria for IFA. They were developed in order to assess people against specific educational and training criteria. So, this is not knocking the IFA for involvement in introducing the NVQ, which is a good attempt to deal with continuing professional development after people start working in archaeology, but I do have a concern about individuals not submitting a portfolio as part of the validation process. The criteria are different and Validation Committee (VC) has (quite rightly) no control or say over the NVQ assessors. These assessors seem to have the potential to control who gets 'fast tracked' however.

In essence, I'm not happy that VC will pass people on the portfolio element on the say so of someone assessing an individual on other criteria. If nothing else, if the work assessed is of a higher standard than that required and is in a submittable format, then it will be in an easy format for VC to assess rapidly. It doesn't have to be 'fast tracked', it will already be by being of the appropriate level and in an easliy accessible format.

There's my 2p.......

[BAJR Host]

Well put and again reasonable questions.

I do hope the IFA see this as honest opinion... after all, thats what gets things right.

Frontline straight talk... thats what makes this forum so useful. thanks to you all.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[Windbag]

Good luck to the scheme, I say.
However, I can't say that at any stage in my career up to this point have I been in a situation where I would have considered the NVQ. In my early years I wouldn't have been able to afford it: it would have swallowed up more than a tenth of my income! In later years I've already worked my way up to AIFA equivalent level, so until the Level 5 (MIFA-equivalent) is rolled out it won't be relevant to me.
At the moment, it will be useful for those without PIFA or AIFA-level experience in steady archaeology jobs. Now how many of those are there around?

[oldgirl]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

Well put and again reasonable questions.

I do hope the IFA see this as honest opinion... after all, thats what gets things right.

Frontline straight talk... thats what makes this forum so useful. thanks to you all.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

And just to make clear, IFA do know what I think as well (although under my real name). They have always given considered replies to my queries. However, as they have other things to do as well, sometimes it takes a while.

On the whole, I think that going forward, having experience verified by an independent body will assist in two ways for the '4 week contract' people in particular.

1. you can demonstrate what level you shoudl probably be employed at (as opposed to having to constantly prove your ability again and again)

2. The thorny question (esp with regard to the RAO pay levels) of what type of job equates to what IFA level, and so therefore what pay rate it attracts will be easier to assess.

Oh dear, sorry, another 2p...... [8D]

[BAJR Host]

Kate Geary has kindly answered the questions...

quote:How will it work for people in 4 week employment patterns?

The way the NVQ works is this: a candidate registers with an assessment centre and is assigned an assessor. The assessor goes through the requirements of the core and optional units they have signed up for with the candidate and together they develop an action plan detailing what evidence they need and how they will gather it to prove competency. This can include work that has been completed previously, via assessment of prior learning. Evidence can be work products such as reports, drawings, plans, sections, photographs etc or it can be observation (by the assessor or by a supervisor) of the candidate carrying out work activities, professional discussion with, or questioning of, the candidate or can even be recorded (audio or visual). The assessor, as well as assessing whether the evidence meets the requirements for the particular unit the candidate is working on, needs to attest that the evidence is current and genuine. The assessor stays with the candidate throughout the whole process, regardless of where they are working so the evidence could be gathered in a number of different workplaces. Obviously, it makes life a lot easier if the employer(s) are supportive of the process but the key thing is the link between the candidate and assessor, and the onus is on the candidate to produce the evidence. The whole process (and this is true of all NVQs, not just this one) is designed to be as flexible as possible, recognising the fact that candidates might have all sorts of different work patterns.

quote:How many employers have signed into this scheme to become assesment centres?

At the moment there are 3 assessment centres registered, including IFA. Others are in the process of training staff etc. A small number of RAOs are considering becoming assessment centres but it will only make sense for the largest organisations to consider this option, because of the time and costs involved. That said, for those organisations intending to incorporate the NVQ into their in-house training programmes, becoming an assessment centre would lead to economies of scale. We envisage that most archaeological organisations would team up with the IFA or another local assessment centre to offer the qualification.

quote:How many people have signed up to do the NVQ as of today?

The IFA centre has 23 candidates registered as of today. I wouldn't know whether the other assessment centres have candidates registered
How many accessors a.re there right now?

IFA has 9 trained or training assessors, including staff from English Heritage and the Nautical Archaeology Society. Again, I wouldn't know about other assessment centres.

quote:Where do you actually get this NVQ?

The NVQ isn't college-based (although it may be offered by colleges and universities). As described above, evidence is collected in the workplace (or other archaeological environment - the NVQ is equally relevant and available to those who work in archaeology in a voluntary capacity). Once the assessor is satisfied that all the requirements of the core and optional units have been met, the qualification is awarded. Evidence also goes through an internal verification process within the assessment centre and an external verification process with the awarding body to ensure consistency and provide quality assurance.

quote:
As the cost is too high for all field staff (excepting those that are in permenamt work and have a kind employer) - what sort of reduction (ballpark) are the IFA looking at being able to provide?

This hasn't been decided yet, IFA is considering whether to have a smaller number of substantial bursaries (covering all or the majority of costs) or a higher number of bursaries of lower value.

quote:the statement
"To undertake the Qualification, candidates must register with an assessment centre. This could be the IFA or any other centre offering the qualification. " means that there must be a place to register already?

As above, in addition to the IFA, there are a couple of other assessment centres already established. The awarding body, EDI, already offers NVQs in Cultural Heritage within the museums sector and these will be museums with archaeological expertise. You can get more information from the EDI website on http://www.ediplc.com.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[the invisible man]

I'm still having trouble with a couple of points. Kathryn says "Applicants with a level 3 NVQ can apply for membership at PIFA level without having to submit a portfolio of work with their application because they will have already submitted a much larger portfolio of work to their NVQ assessor which tests the same areas."

However, a portfolio of work does not have to submitted with an application at PIFA level (although 'applicants are encouraged to do so').

What does 'fast track' mean? I don't see any speeding up of the application process (or any real need to do so) other than an applicant not having to bundle up a portfolio.

I notice that all reference to a degree or other qualification seems to have been removed, as has any minumum length of time. Fine, this may or may not be essential for a digger, but if we are trying to 'professionalize' archaeological practice and improve its perception, particularly by other professions, this is hardly the way to go about it.

The reference to the RICS is telling and perhaps an og. NVQs do not give access to the RICS or professional status. The RICS, like some other professions (e.g. accountancy, architecture, engineering, dentistry) etc), recognises a two tier status level: the full professional, and the technician. NVQs as I understand it give access to 'technical' membership (not full) membership of the RICS and does not permit the use of the letters RICS after your name. You can't call yourself a Social Worker incidentally without a degree or the diplpoma:NVQs are not enough.

Are we working towards a two tier approach in archaeology, with the career digger as a technician?

[mercenary]

Kate's response suggests that the current assessors are based with the IFA and two other organizations. Does this mean that to become an assessor I have to be part of an "accepted" centre? Are there independent assessors on the books? Lastly, if it is possible to be an independent assessor am I able to do so without IFA membership? I hasten to point out that I'm not entirely against joining, I'm just curious about the requirements which are at present unclear.