Published in 21 de November de 2017
The accreditation of professional competencies in the water sector
In the water sector, it is difficult for us to find qualified personnel to fill vacancies in the productive field, since until recently there was no type of vocational training or specific training cycles for this sector. That is why many of the professionals that nowadays belong to our organizations have achieved their qualification over the years, in the same place of work, but in the majority of the cases without having a suitable degree.
In relation to this lack, different productive sectors have started processes of accreditation of professional competencies. In the case of the water sector, the ASAC (group of water services in Catalonia) has been the promoter, initiating a process that will allow employees of the integral water cycle to prove a situation regulating the skills acquired in their jobs. This procedure for the assessment and accreditation of professional competences acquired through work experience or non-formal training courses allows the people involved to obtain a certification that can be used to obtain a certificate of professionalism, a degree of vocational training or both.
The specialties in this area will be: mounting and maintenance of water networks; operation of water treatment and / or organization stations and control of the assembly and maintenance of networks and facilities of water and sanitation The procedure as such has three phases, the advisory, where the applicant is advised to have more possibilities to pass the evaluation phase; the one of evaluation where the applicant can demonstrate the professional competences for which he requests the accreditation, be it with documentation, attendance to courses, in written or practical form; and the certification where people who pass the assessment stage receive an official certification for each of the units in which they have demonstrated their professional competence. This procedure allows to show that the person qualified to develop a professional activity, in which he already has experience, can obtain an official accreditation.
This procedure for the assessment and accreditation of professional competences acquired through work experience or non-formal training courses allows the people involved to obtain a certification that can be used to obtain a certificate of professionalism, a degree of vocational training or both. The specialties in this area will be: mounting and maintenance of water networks; operation of water treatment and / or organization stations and control of the assembly and maintenance of networks and facilities of water and sanitation.
The procedure as such has three phases, the advisory, where the applicant is advised to have more possibilities to pass the evaluation phase; the one of evaluation where the applicant can demonstrate the professional competences for which he requests the accreditation, be it with documentation, attendance to courses, in written or practical form; and the certification where people who pass the assessment stage receive an official certification for each of the units in which they have demonstrated their professional competence. This procedure allows to show that the person qualified to develop a professional activity, in which he already has experience, can obtain an official accreditation. Aigües de Manresa participates in this call for a double match, on the one hand with participants in the call to prove their professional skills acquired during many years of work in the company, and on the other with two technicians that will be integrated in the advisory, evaluation and certification commissions.
Sergi Grau, study and technical support and Montse Pujol, head of human resources process in Aigües de Manresa
