29th July 2008, 09:39 PM
Basically, yes you have to go through a centre. I replied as a qualified assessor, and the IFA were pretty enthusiastic at first, but nowt since despite reminders from me. I get the feeling that they're trying to get a couple of centres going to give the NVQ a kick start and then try to build up a wider network of assesors (would happily be corrected), but even so, because the assessments have to be verified ( a two-stage process), you effectively have to assess within a centre- though this could be any organisation willing to employ qualified assessors and give them working time to assess...
I'm not too impressed as I've heard nothing since the initial contact about a year ago, and I said at the time that my currency was running out- so I'm in danger of having to do the assessor's course all over again, and I've not got the time to do the whole thing again, and couldn't outside a centre anyway, as you qualify as an assessor through your portfolio of assessment work... :face-thinks:
As regards the standards, I did see a draft a long time ago, and they seem pretty relevant (e.g. for diggers, can they use a level, fill out a context sheet etc), though I'm not sure what level they extend to. As long as its based on the level of COMPETENCE actually required to do the job, then I don't see that anyone who hasn't done the NVQ at a lower level has anything to worry about other diggers with an 'unfair advantage'.
The other issue is that almost all diggers, probably up to and including supervisor level, I've ever met are actually seriously overqualified and overexperienced for the level of responsibility they have (this is probably the main reason why the pay is rubbish for the level of qualification- in most other professions a new graduate would start on a junior/trainee management grade rather than the lowest technical grade). This is a consequence of the oversupply of qualified archaeologists compared to the number of jobs available. Harsh fact of life, but nothing new. Sure the level of knowledge that you get from the three-or more years of studying is useful, but it's not actually necessary at digger level. I could name tens of 'unqualified' but competent diggers.
At the moment we have a single tier qualified and generally skilled and motivated (??) workforce, but a two-tier employment system. Sorry if this bit is controversial...:face-stir:
I'm not too impressed as I've heard nothing since the initial contact about a year ago, and I said at the time that my currency was running out- so I'm in danger of having to do the assessor's course all over again, and I've not got the time to do the whole thing again, and couldn't outside a centre anyway, as you qualify as an assessor through your portfolio of assessment work... :face-thinks:
As regards the standards, I did see a draft a long time ago, and they seem pretty relevant (e.g. for diggers, can they use a level, fill out a context sheet etc), though I'm not sure what level they extend to. As long as its based on the level of COMPETENCE actually required to do the job, then I don't see that anyone who hasn't done the NVQ at a lower level has anything to worry about other diggers with an 'unfair advantage'.
The other issue is that almost all diggers, probably up to and including supervisor level, I've ever met are actually seriously overqualified and overexperienced for the level of responsibility they have (this is probably the main reason why the pay is rubbish for the level of qualification- in most other professions a new graduate would start on a junior/trainee management grade rather than the lowest technical grade). This is a consequence of the oversupply of qualified archaeologists compared to the number of jobs available. Harsh fact of life, but nothing new. Sure the level of knowledge that you get from the three-or more years of studying is useful, but it's not actually necessary at digger level. I could name tens of 'unqualified' but competent diggers.
At the moment we have a single tier qualified and generally skilled and motivated (??) workforce, but a two-tier employment system. Sorry if this bit is controversial...:face-stir: