How to gain competence

Training and competence has become an important part of European industry.In order to meet these requirements in the Water Supply and Management sector EC-AQUA project has created an innovative on-line training programme, organised in Learning Outcomes (LO). Each LO is defined in terms of knowledge, skills and wider competence development. The built comprehensive LO are designed for professionals working in the area of waste water treatment having core education corresponding to EQF reference levels 5, 6 and 7. These reference levels are assessed and validated by ECVET credit points and their successful completion provide upturn in careers which are now recognised as a major need for European knowledge – based society progress. Thus more profound understanding of the key environment requirements and waste legislation is envisaged.

The training is web-based and delivered on-line, and can be easily accessed by trainees on spot. Trainee can access the courses after registration and then are taken through a series of narrated Learning Pathways (LPs) that vary in size and content according to the chosen qualification profile and EQF reference level. The knowledge part of LPs is presented as a number of chapters and each chapter covers a specified element of training, with a self-test element at the end. A special section “Qualification descriptions” is designed, which provide information regarding knowledge (general and specific), skills (cognitive and subject-specific) and wider competence (social, organisational and technical) acquired upon completion of corresponding LP. When selected LP has been successfully completed a certificate is issued.

Qualification

Learning outcomes according to the EQF levels (Europa.eu):

Qualification descriptions

The units of learning outcomes are accepted as the main descriptor of the qualifications. According to the European Recommendations, the units which design a qualification should: outline in an eligible and understandable way the knowledge, skills and competences; be coherently constructed and organised in respect to the overall qualification; and allow the discrete assessment and validation of learning outcomes organised in it. Following these requirements an EC-AQUA competence map has been created, comprising description of 13 occupational profiles divided in 5 subgroups relevant to the water supply and waste water treatment targets in the sector: Teaching / Training professionals, General subject trainers, Specific subject trainers, Institution managers, and Policy decision makers. Applying several descriptive elements (the basic title of the qualification, the EQF reference level to which a qualification relates, description of general and specific profile activities in respect to knowledge, skills, wider competences and behaviours) charts presenting qualifications are developed. Each EC-AQUA occupational profile is described in terms of learning outcomes, comprising professional, methodical, personal and social competences to be gained by the learner upon defined period of training in the frame of the EC-AQUA project. Its content is simply designated, and is understandable for the labour market operators (teachers/trainers, employees, business people, social partners, etc).

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Short Intensive Courses (SICs)

Qualification Ranking Record

EC-AQUA Qualification Ranking Record (EC-AQUA QRR) comprises an assemblage of documents that evidences mastery of a set of skills, applied knowledge, and attitudes of an individual who have completed training and acquired competence / qualification. It is foreseen as a place to store as well as a visual representation of official papers related to individual "assets" in the form of training, work experience, contributions, and special accomplishments.EC-AQUA QRR documents include:

• Competence Certificate
• Curriculum Vitae
• Europass mobility
• Language passport
• Certificate supplement
• Other relevant internationally recognized certificates

Learning outcomes

Competences are accepted as the “most valuable resource” for an individual, a community, an area, a business activity. They are key tool for innovation process at work. The choice of using a competence based approach in designing EC-AQUA learning model is coherent with what is done at a National and European level. Furthermore, this kind of approach introduces the fundamental factor of system integration and enhances the transparency and transferability of services offered by various VET systems in the sector. In this respect EC-AQUA innovative content is organised in certification units of learning outcomes, designed in such a way as to provide a consistent and structured learning process and clear criteria for assessment. For each EC-AQUA occupational profile at corresponding EQF reference level (6 or 7) an adequate Learning Pathway is created. The formulated LPs are built from relevant LOs which are selected on the basis of complete work assignments, working processes, areas of work, fields of action or fields of competence, which are typical of the particular profession. In order to validate and recognize learning outcomes, which have been achieved in EC-AQUA learning context, corresponding ECVET points are granted to the learner. The resultant ECVET points, noted in the brackets (e.g. EC: 8), are allocated in accordance with the relative "value" of the unit of learning outcomes measured on the basis of the defined qualification.

Good practices in sanitation and water loss management

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