Advancing Mutual Recognition: Practice, Potential and Collaboration
-
Upload
institute-for-research-on-public-policy-irpp -
Category
Documents
-
view
13 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Advancing Mutual Recognition: Practice, Potential and Collaboration
2nd Canada-Australia Foreign Credential Roundtable
Session on Advancing Mutual Recognition: Practice, Potential and Collaboration
Kim Allen, FEC, P.Eng.
March 22, 2013
Advancing global mobility for the Canadian
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER *
Engineers Canada
• Advancing the engineering profession and its self-regulation by the 12 provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering govern the country’s 250,000 licence holders that protect and serve the public interest.
– National and International Affairs
– Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board
– Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board
– Government Relations
www.engineerscanada.ca
@EngineersCanada
Engineering Models
• “Good Engineering” – Voluntary membership credential recognition
• “Good Engineering with public accountability through a licence” – Legislated requirement to be licensed
Recognition Agreements
Recognition of some or all of the requirements for registration or licensure:
• Education Agreements
• Professional Agreements
Risk Management
Key Question
• Can we provide the public reasonable assurance that the individual will practice with competency and integrity?
• How do we assess the individual with the competencies that they have today?
Education Agreements
• The Key Components:
• accreditation is a key foundation for the practice of engineering in each country
• accreditation criteria, policies and procedures are comparable
• accreditation decisions rendered by one party are acceptable to the other
• mutual monitoring and information exchange
Education Agreements:
• Canada, USA (ABET Agreement)
• Canada, France
• Washington Accord - 1989 • 17 members (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New
Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, Hong Kong, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Korea, Turkey, Russia)
• 5 provisional members (Bangladesh, Germany, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
Professional Agreements
• The Key Components:
• Based on recognition of accreditation systems generally through the Washington Accord
• High professional standards of engineering exist and are required for registration
• The engineering profession is well-regarded either through statute or convention
• Quality assurance framework:
• Public complaints and disciplinary processes
• Continuing Professional Development
• Practice inspections
Agreements
• Professional Agreements:
• Canada, Texas, Mexico (NAFTA)
• Canada, Texas
• Canada, Hong Kong
• Canada, Australia
• Canada, Ireland
Canadian Framework for Licensure • Vision for regulation of the engineering profession in
Canada
• Developed one element at a time
• Developed collaboratively by all regulators
• Elements provide high-level Key Considerations, policy direction and details for implementation
• Individual regulators adopt elements as desired / required
• Councils, Boards, provincial/territorial governments
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements Canadian Framework for Licensure element created to:
• Establish a uniform approach to developing international recognition agreements
• Increase the mobility of internationally registered engineers and Canadian professional engineers
• Facilitate foreign credential recognition.
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements Key Considerations:
• Upholding and protecting the public interest in Canada in the
practice of professional engineering.
• A broad consensus of the engineering regulators to enter into
negotiations of any new international recognition agreement,
under an agreed protocol.
• International recognition agreements may recognize some or all
of the Canadian licensure competencies and requirements.
• International recognition agreements serve to facilitate foreign
qualification recognition in Canada and the mobility of Canadian
professional engineers abroad.
• International recognition agreements include provisions for
reporting numbers of applicants between jurisdictions.
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements Process:
• Receive request for MRA
• Research
• Constituent associations consulted
• Engineers Canada respond to the country or group with a
timeline and level of interest.
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements Research:
• How many applicants from the country or group?
• How many immigrants arrive in Canada from the country or
group?
• How many Canadians work or move to the country?
• What is the Federal Government position on the country?
• Does the country or group have a credible/recognized system?
• What other agreements they have in place?
• Do they have the ability to pay for services?
• Are there special circumstances that would warrant considering
the request?
• Any other information that may help to better understand the
request?
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements
• Develop information package
• Broad consensus support by the constituent
associations.
• What is required to negotiate a MRA:
• What skills are needed to respond?
• How many volunteers are needed?
• Generally what resources are needed to respond
to the request?
• Board considers recommendations of proceeding or
not
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements MRA Development Team :
• Constituent Association Board of Examiners member
• Constituent Association Admissions official
• International Committee member
• Engineers Canada staff
Negotiating International Recognition Agreements MRA Development Team then:
• Gathers information from the other party in the agreement.
• Consultations with constituent associations regarding outstanding concerns.
• Review and assessment of actual experience reviews.
• Resolve issues and draft Agreement
• Board approval.
Why a Mutual Recognition Agreement?
Public’s Benefits
• framework for free trade in professional services
while protecting and serving the public interest in
each jurisdiction
• free movement of professionals is to be achieved
efficiently and effectively.
• expedite the application and adoption of new ideas
and technologies.
Why a Mutual Recognition Agreement?
Regulator’s Benefits
• efficiency in the admissions process
• ensure licensing requirements are best practice
• standards keep up with global developments in
engineering practice.
Self-Regulation
• Advances the public interest in an effective manner
for its members
Why a Mutual Recognition Agreement?
Engineers’ Benefits
• exposure to a variety of work environments and
projects which enables engineers to broaden their
professional skills.
• new perspectives and expertise that foreign
engineers can bring to a project.
For more information:
Email: [email protected]
www.engineerscanada.ca
Twitter: @KimAllenPEng
Advancing global mobility for the Canadian
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER *
*The term PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER is an official mark held by the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.