Assessment of Competence Qualifications for Project Management and Controls Author: Company: Industry Type: Address: Telephone: Fax

Email Paper Title: Richard Plumb Association of Cost Engineers Professional Body 4, Larkspur Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex. RH13 9GR.UK. +44(0)1403-734250 +44(0)1403-734260 Richard.plumb@btinternet.com Assessment of Competence Qualifications for Project Management and Controls

Speaker Profile Richard Plumb C.Eng., MIStructE., FACostE., MAPM A Chartered Engineer, now a registered Assessor/Verifier for NVQs at professional levels with British Awarding Bodies, is specialising in project management and controls qualifications. Currently as an ACostE Council Member he provides continuing support for the Project Controls NVQs, following many years being heavily involved in the development of these qualifications. Additionally, through his consultancy services with approved delivery centres, he has been responsible for the progression of many candidates in the UK and overseas.

ABSTRACT Assessment of Competence Qualifications for Project Management and Controls For the project management and controls profession, the standards and vocational qualifications developed and implemented since 1997 provide a proven benchmark that an individual practitioner can use to demonstrate his/her professional occupational competence. They form a medium for training employees, job candidate selection, professional society membership and continuing professional development. However, the standards and vocational qualifications are of little value if there is no reliable, satisfactory and auditable method of assessment available to the candidate and qualification Awarding Bodies. This paper discusses the technical, integrity and operational requirements of an assessment process for a candidate embarked upon a project management or project controls Vocational

Qualification programme. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the quality assurance aspects of the assessment process, such that the qualification eventually awarded to the candidate will meet the standards, as laid down by the statutory authorities. The paper also discusses the importance of the personal and leadership qualities required of assessors engaged in this professional level process. Consistency and integrity of assessment, training of assessors and verifiers, providing quality feedback to candidates and the effective reporting of candidate progress are all touched upon with the intention of leading the readers to explore further, the required techniques of this profession. Recent assessment technique developments are described, which are designed to provide assessment and development support to candidates who are working overseas, in remote locations or in other situations where frequent meetings with an assessor are not practicable. Information is also provided on the expectations of time and effort required from candidates and the time required for the assessment process. Richard Plumb