(PLFCAR) Project Jake Bruneau, Sr. Project Manager

Prior Learning & Foreign Credential
Assessment and Recognition (PLFCAR)
Project
Jake Bruneau, Sr. Project Manager
Presentation Overview
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CAMC & Sector Councils
PLFCAR System
Phases and Implementation
Benefits
Challenges
Next Steps
CAMC’s Mission
To develop, promote and
administer the human resources
strategy for the aviation
maintenance and aerospace
manufacturing industry sector
Canada’s Aviation/Aerospace Sector Council
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CAMC’s overall goal is to improve the quality of the
Canadian aviation & aerospace sector labour force, and
to assist firms to be more flexible in meeting changing
competitive demands.
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Sector Councils bring together representatives from
business, labour, education, and other professional
groups in a neutral forum in order to comprehensively
and cooperatively analyze and address sector-wide
human resources issues.
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Sector Councils address a wide range of issues related
to technological change, quality standards, planning, and
human resource development.
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Please visit the TASC website for further information on
Canada’s Sector Council program at www.councils.org
What is PLFCAR?
•Integration of two key processes:
Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) &
Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR)
• CAMC’s system is based on addressing both
components in a single sweep of the applicant
• CAMC will NOT be evaluating “credentials”, but
will be evaluating individuals’ knowledge and
capabilities against industry created & recognized
National Occupational Standards
CAMC’s PLFCAR System
• Address the critical need to competencies of
workers with credentials and experience
obtained outside of the aviation sector or
outside of Canada
• Develop an efficient and effective system to
process experienced workers who are currently
not recognized within the Canadian system
• Produce a web-based assessment tool
PLFCAR Overview
• Started: October 2004 – Schedule is 30 months
• National, Objective, Comprehensive, Accessible
• Test and evaluate candidates
- Competency based
- Gap Profile
• Supported by: HRSDC, Transport Canada, Industry
Canada, Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Industry,
Educational Institutions
PLFCAR Infrastructure
National Accredited
Evaluation Centres
• Colleges
• Industry
• International Sites
• Online Application
• Self Assessment
• Interview – Verbal
• Language Competency
• Numeracy Assessment
• Computer Assessment
• Technical EXAM
• Practical Assessment
• Exit Interview
Accreditation
System
Training
Registration
Certification
System
CAMC - PLFCAR
Infrastructure
College Core
Recurrent, OJT
LMI
System
CAMC
Exam Bank
Gap Profile
Credential
Rating
System Assessment Elements
National Aviation and Aerospace PLFCAR System
Phase 1 – Application
(Note: include an
advisory function
through all phases of
the system)
Candidate data and
information collection,
registration.
- Tombstone data
- Work experience
- Education, Training
- Credentialing, Licensing
Phase 2 – Self
Assessment
Candidate’s
assessment will
determine suitability
to specific
occupation(s)
- General industry
knowledge
- Candidate’s
preferences/opinion
Phase 3 – Interview
Sector Assessment
- Verbal communications
- General industry
knowledge
Phase 4 – Language
Competency
General Language;
Sector Specific
Canadian Language
Benchmarks evaluate
second language speakers
Phase 5 – Numeric
Assessment
General Numeric;
Sector Specific
TOWES type assessment to
determine math &
schematic diagram
functionality
System Assessment Elements Cont’d
National Aviation and Aerospace PLFCAR System
Phase 6 – Computer
Assessment
General computer
competency
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Skill
Phase 7 –Trade Exam
Occupation specific
- Knowledge
- Experience
- CAMC Exam Bank
Phase 8 – Practical
Assessment
Occupation specific
practical validation
- Competencies
- Knowledge
- Skill
- Experience
- Motor Skills
Phase 9 –
Competency
Recognition and Gap
Identification
Review of assessment with candidate, presentation
of profile report, recommendations on future steps
Phase 10 – Fill Gap
The Candidate will take steps to fill the gaps
identified at the academic and practical level.
Phase 11 – Re-Assess
Review with the Candidate current and acquired
skills to determine if CAMC Occupational
Certification is granted.
Profile Generation
• Once processing is complete a profile is generated
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A personal “diagnostic” is generated that measures
the candidate against the present occupational standard
• The applicant
is advised of the areas where he/she
tested well against the standard’s requirements
• The individual is then informed of the areas where gaps in
knowledge were noticed on the assessment
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Applicants will be advised as to where gaps can be
addressed through training institutions and/or industry
on the job training (OJT)
Which Occupations
Group survey:
• Aircraft Maintenance Technician √
• Aircraft Structures Technician√
• Avionics Maintenance Technician √
• Aviation Welding Technician√
• Aviation Electrical/Electronic Instrument Component
Technician
• Aviation Mechanical Component Technician
• Aviation Machinist
• Aviation Non-Destructive Inspection Technician
• Quality Assurance
Evaluation Centres
• CAMC is currently working with its many
industry partners to establish or identify
potential locations for evaluation centres
• Focus on covering all geographic areas
across the country while addressing the ability
to deliver both technical and soft skills training
• Evaluation centers will facilitate the needs of
individuals who only require specific areas of
training
Modulated Training System
• The CAMC National Curricula System is
based on a modulated format
• Working with training communities to re-
engineer their environment toward a
modulated system that addresses the need
for “delta” training programs
Planned Technical Service & User Features
• High Reliability & Performance
• 24/7 Availability and Support
• High Performance
• Secure and Protects Privacy
• Easy to Use
• Bilingual Capability
Benefits
• Availability of workforce to integrate into
your company
• Continued confidence in the system, its
safety and integrity.
• Retention system
• Time and money savings on training
• Development of continuous learning
culture
3 Major Issues
1) Cannot Bend Standards
• CAMC’s existing certification process must be
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kept intact to ensure credibility in the system
CAMC currently looking to re-vamp its “Evaluator”
system to benefit the PLFCAR system & its users
2) Who is to PAY for this?
• Steering Committee meetings have identified this
as a big question; will it be the users, providers,
training institutions, industry, government,
CAMC?
3) Setting up the Evaluation centres
• CAMC currently discussing this issue with a subcommittee; need to identify where, why, who
make up the various models of delivery?
Other Perceptual Challenges
• System will take jobs away from Canadian
apprentices in industry given the focus on
foreign credential instead of prior learning
• Public perception of “hiring foreign workers”
and not training/retraining unemployed
• Identity of person applying in question
• Fraudulent documents
• Highly regulated industry
• Buy-in from the industry (have answers ready
for the vocal against)
• Validity of System’s credentials
Moving Forward
• Released PLFCAR IT RFP 19 Oct 05
• Created focus groups to address
the exam bank and the evaluation centres
• Will generate additional RFPs as required
• Executive Meeting scheduled 30 Nov 05
• Award PLFCAR IT contract early Dec 05
Thank You
Questions/
Comments?