European Career Management: Credibility through Professional Online Training & Certification

Transcription

1 European Career Management: Credibility through Professional Online Training & Certification Executive Summary The origins of the career management profession, like many other professional service-based fields, traces back hundreds of years. Efforts to help people identify appropriate careers, began in the fifteenth century. Now, in the 21 st century, the career management profession proclaims its credibility as an established field of study and practice. Technology is the catalyst for this transformation. This briefing describes the history of the certification and training movement within the career management industry, and further explains its evolution to an online venue through the following points: Historical Overview Trends in Online Learning for Professional Certification Why Offer Online Career Management Training and Certification? How the ECMTF Portal Works How the ECMTF Portal Solves the Problem Conclusion Works Cited Historical Overview The International Board for Career Management Certification (IBCMC) established ground in 1994 to promote, encourage, and maintain professionalism in career management practice. Originally named The Outplacement Institute, the organization s primary focus provided a means of certifying people working in career management firms. The Association of Career Professionals International (ACP International) and the Association of Career Management Consulting Firms International (AOCFI) continue to jointly sponsor the IBCMC. In 2002, IBCMC, ACP International, and AOCFI partnered with The European Career Management Training Foundation (ECMTF) and Fontys University to develop, and ultimately offer, training for incoming outplacement consultants as a first introduction to the profession and for senior consultant certification. This partnership resulted in the birth of an exciting opportunity - the creation of an online solution, specifically focused on offering a standardized training and certification program for outplacement practitioners in the European Union.

2 Trends in Online Learning for Professional Certification As the European outplacement industry embraces distance learning as a vehicle for professional growth, it supports a growing trend. Gartner, a well-known global research and advisory firm, predicts that the global e-learning market will continue aggressive growth, reaching $ 35 billion by IBM Unveils Next Generation Learning Management System in the Middle East. (2003, February 27). Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Retrieved on April 10, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. More than GBP20 million is now being spent in Scotland on the fledgling sector of elearning, according to a new report by Kenneth Fee, which aims to provide an overview of the industry. Clark, Ron. (2002, December 16). elearning gets a good report card. The Herald (Glasgow), p. 16. Retrieved on April 9, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. Professions With Online Certification Programs Architects Broadcasting professionals Building Inspectors Clinical laboratory professionals Construction professionals Dentists Doctors of Chiropractic Employee assistance professionals Engineers Government accountability professionals Interior designers IT Professionals Land surveyors Landscape architects Licensed counselors Massage therapists Nurses Nurse practitioners Outplacement professionals Pharmacists Physicians Physician assistants Psychiatrists Real Estate Agents School psychologists and counselors Security Professionals Social workers Why Offer Online Career Management Training and Certification? IBCMC set forth specific Goals for Career Management Certification. The following outlines these goals along with the ECMTF s solution for meeting each goal.

3 IBCMC Goals for Career Management Certification ECMTF s Solution for Meeting These Goals GOAL 1 Improving, on a continuing and systematic basis, the level of professionalism in the career management field. Continual portal development/improvement Systemic approach consistent information available systemically for all participants GOAL 2 Providing recognition to those who have proven knowledge of the general principles and practices of career management. Training course - aids senior consultants toward certification Training course - introduces incoming consultants to the profession Certificate awarded upon online course completion GOAL 3 Educating the public, career management clients and members of career management-sponsoring organizations that the practice of career management calls for special training and experience. Portal establishes a firm foundation outlining training and experience for practitioners GOAL 4 Informing the public, career management clients and members of the career management-sponsoring organizations of the qualifications of career management professionals. Tasks for outplacement consultants are defined Competencies for outplacement consultants are defined Career management theory is defined GOAL 5 Encouraging and assisting career management professionals in maintaining and increasing their knowledge and competence through continuing education and professional development activities. Portal offers continuing education and professional development through online training activities Portal provides access to career management experts - active members of the Career Management community Portal offers continual content updating for new continuing education experiences GOAL 6 Encouraging career management professionals to participate regularly in the various benefits to members of the IBCMC s sponsoring organizations, the International Association of Career Management Professionals (IACMP) and the Association of Career Management Consulting Firms International (AOCFI) Portal offers opportunity for career management professionals to participate in collaborative learning with members of the industry

4 The existence of an online portal enables IBCMC to meet these goals by offering a standardized e-learning opportunity accessed anytime, anywhere by the career management students it serves. It offers supporting tools and processes enabling career management professionals to attain the certification goals outlined by their profession. How the ECMTF Portal Works The ECMTF portal acts as the solution for delivering online training and certification for the European outplacement industry. It is a robust platform through which groups of 6 students, three of which will be new to the profession (juniors) and three will be practitioners (seniors), will request certification by IBCMC after attending the training course. The course will be led by a very senior professional certified as a fellow practitioner (Tutor). The web based program acts as a case study based course where interactive online tools stimulate international social dialogue and cross learning from both new and senior professionals. The training course takes 36 weeks and covers 36 case studies. Students receive access to a shared workspace to compare their personal analysis with those of fellow students. Tutors facilitate Online group meetings supplemented by individualized one-on-one meetings. After 36 weeks students will receive a certificate of course attendance. It has been the internet that has wrought the most dramatic changes over the distance learning landscape. The internet's open standards allow anyone to access web-based content - at any time and from any location. Since technology emerged in 1971, students and professors have been able to communicate with each other more quickly, easily and cheaply than ever before. Murray, Sarah. (2003, March 24). Web-based systems change the MBA landscape: HISTORY OF DISTANCE LEARNING. The Financial Times Limited, p. 3. How the ECMTF Portal Solves the Problem The ECMTF portal enables the career management profession to meet the goals IBCMC set forth in terms of Career Management Certification as evidenced by the previous chart in this briefing. This technology portal offers: A systemic, standardized approach for all An opportunity for individuals to meet specified knowledge requirements Public access to career management standards for training and experience Ongoing continuing education and learning opportunities This is the best solution available on the market due to the fact that it was created by career management professionals for career management professionals. Conclusion A distance learning initiative remains a highly effective tool for the European career management industry to employ in order to reach out and attract the best practitioners to serve in this life-altering profession. The flexibility that distance learning provides in terms of continuing education goes without saying. Created in the latest technology, by career management professionals, this solution is the most flexible option available and will easily adjust to changing industry needs.

5 Works Cited Clark, Ron. (2002, December 16). elearning gets a good report card. The Herald (Glasgow), p. 16. Retrieved on April 9, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. IBCMC Certification Handbook. Background Information on IBCMC. Retrieved on April 8, 2003, from IBCMC Certification Handbook. Goals for Career Management Certification. Retrieved on April 8, 2003, from IBM Unveils Next Generation Learning Management System in the Middle East. (2003, February 27). Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Retrieved on April 10, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. Murray, Sarah. (2003, March 24). Web-based systems change the MBA landscape: HISTORY OF DISTANCE LEARNING. The Financial Times Limited, p. 3. Works referenced for professions which have established various online certification programs: Contract News. (2003, March 7). Lifelong Learning Market Report. Retrieved on April 7, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Clinical laboratory professionals). elogic Learning Delivers Online Health Care Platform to Developing Nations. (2002, November 20). Business Wire. Retrieved on April 11, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Physicians, nurses and pharmacists). Meet AGA's national president--william J. Anderson Jr., CGFM. (Summer 2002). The Journal of Government Financial Management, Vol. 51, No. 2, p. 66. Retrieved on April 10, 2003, from Lexis- Nexis database. (Government accountability professionals). NAADAC launches online tobacco treatment certification program. (2002, December 9). Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, Vol 14, No. 46, p. 4. Retrieved on April 8, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Licensed counselors, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, pharmacists, social workers, school psychologists and counselors). RedVector.com Doubles Curriculum; Online Library Surges Past 1,700 Courses. (2003, February 19). PR Newswire. Retrieved on April 9, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Engineers, architects, construction professionals, land surveyors, interior designers, building inspectors and landscape architects). TheCEU.com Goes Online for Chiropractors. (2003, March 20). PR Newswire. Retrieved on April 7, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Doctors of Chiropractic, physicians, dentists, nurses and massage therapists). Web site to help train doctors for terrorism, other emergencies. (2002, December 18). The Associated Press State & Local Wire. Retrieved on April 9, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Physicians). What this job pays - Real-estate agent. (2002, July 14). The Seattle Times, p. J3. Retrieved on April 11, 2003, from Lexis-Nexis database. (Real estate agents).