CAPLA HIGHLIGHTS
By Paul Zakos, President, CAPLA
CAPLA is partnering with the Canadian Technology Human Resources Board to develop a process and criteria for validating agents. Malcolm Day of the University of Sheffield in the UK has been seconded to CAPLA/FNTI to manage phase I of the project. It is anticipated that the criteria and process for validating agents will be in place by the end of 1998. Validating agents will assume the responsibility for ensuring that the experience of Canadian technicians and technologists will be equitably and credibly assessed against the National Technology Standards. It is anticipated that five to eight organizations will act in an advisory capacity to the CTHRB in Phase I.
The Board also received a report on a current initiative involving the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the American Productivity and Quality Centre (APQC) to establish benchmarks for Adult Friendly Institutions. A questionnaire was developed by CAEL and APQC with assistance from three subject matter experts; John Strange, University of Alabama; Susan Mancuso, Western Washington University, and myself. The questionnaire was sent to over 60 public and private educational institutions in the USA, Canada, the UK and France. It is anticipated that a short list of 5 or 6 institutions will be chosen for follow-up site visits and that a publication which highlights the goals of the project and its major outcomes will be produced in early 1999. Tom Flint, Vice President for Lifelong Learning of CAEL is heading up the project.
A recently-signed agreement between Tecsult Eduplus of Ottawa and the Government of Chile signals the official beginning of an employability development program in Chile sponsored in part by a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) grant. CAPLA/FNTI have been contracted to develop a PLAR policy and train-the-trainer workshops to be delivered at 3 sites in Chile beginning in early 1999. Three representatives from Chile came to Canada in mid-October on a fact-finding tour. While here Canada they visited FNTI/CAPLA headquarters on the Tyendinaga Territory. Arthur Mills, Senior Advisor, Labour Force Development and Employment Policies, Tecsult Eduplus heads up this project