What makes a professional qualification professional.

In the world of outdoor education and adventure sports, professional skill qualifications are the real deal. They're not just fancy titles or certificates, but solid proof of instructors' expertise, safety consciousness, competence and ethical conduct.  These qualifications provide a benchmark for assessing an individual's proficiency in various outdoor activities, and they serve as a means to promote community agreement, transparency, and accountability. 

In this blog entry, we will delve into the process of developing a professional, well-respected outdoor skill qualification. We will explore the importance of community engagement and transparency in this process and highlight the key elements involved.

Community Engagement:

Picture a gathering of experienced practitioners, industry professionals, and other stakeholders (schools, government bodies, public) gathered to share their passion, wisdom and insights on a topic. That's what community engagement looks like in the world of outdoor skill qualifications. It's about involving the right people in the process, listening to their insights, and incorporating their expertise. This ensures that the qualifications are reflective of the current needs, best practices, and emerging trends within the outdoor field. While this can be challenging and time-consuming, by involving the community, qualifications can be designed to align with the values, ethics, and aspirations of those who use and benefit from them.

Needs Assessment and Competency Framework: 

To establish a robust qualification, a comprehensive needs assessment is conducted. This means identifying the specific skills, knowledge, and attributes required for safe and effective practice in a particular outdoor discipline. A competency framework is then developed, outlining the must-have abilities and performance criteria necessary to meet the qualification's standards. This framework serves as the foundation for the qualification's syllabus and assessment criteria.

Syllabus Design: 

The syllabus defines the knowledge, technical skills, and practical competencies that candidates must acquire to earn your qualification.  It's a transparent and user-friendly guide that keeps everyone on the same path. This is essential to ensure that candidates, training providers, and assessors have a shared understanding of the qualification's requirements and all are assessed equally against it. It should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best industry practices and knowledge so new instructors are always equipped with the freshest tools in their instructing toolkit.

Training and Assessment:

Now, let's delve into the details of training and assessment. This is where the real progress takes place! To achieve a professional outdoor skill qualification, candidates must undergo a structured training and assessment process.  Training providers should be experienced guides who will lead potential instructors through the syllabus focusing on theory, practical skills and experiential learning. They should assist the candidate in unlocking their inner outdoor practitioner! Assessment methods may include written exams, practical demonstrations, simulated scenarios, and real-world evaluations. It is essential that the assessment process is fair, consistent, and transparent, ensuring that candidates are evaluated against the established standards.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement:

Just like a sturdy rope supports safety during a climb, quality assurance is essential to guarantee the integrity of a well-respected outdoor skill qualification. A system should be implemented to monitor training providers and assessors and ensure strict adherence to high standards. Open communication channels, feedback mechanisms, and reporting procedures should be in place to address concerns, resolve issues, and promote continuous improvement. Transparency in the quality assurance process builds trust and confidence within the outdoor community.

Developing professional outdoor skill qualifications is a complex and collaborative process that requires community agreement and transparency. How can an awarding body do this and award qualifications that are well-respected and serve their purpose?

By:

•  engaging the outdoor community,

• conducting a needs assessment,

• designing a comprehensive syllabus,

• implementing rigorous training and assessment,

• ensuring quality assurance,

• and promoting continued professional development.

Transparency throughout the process fosters trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to safe and ethical outdoor practices.

As the outdoor learning community in Hong Kong strives for excellence, by choosing certifications and providers that embrace these principles you can help to contribute to the growth and professionalism of the sector.