Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Surveying
Profession
by Stig Enemark and Frances Plimmer
Key words: Mutual Recognition, Surveying Profession, FIG.
Abstract
There is no doubt that the market for the services
of surveyors is world-wide. There is no human activity, which does not
involve the use of land, in its broadest sense, and, increasingly, our
clients have international interests. Pressure is also being generated
by the WTO, which provides the framework for free trade in
professional services and surveying as a profession needs to respond.
The FIG task force on Mutual Recognition of
Qualifications should be seen as such a respond to globalisation of
surveying services. The task force aims to review the concept of
mutual recognition of qualifications within the world wide surveying
community and to develop a framework for introduction of standards of
global professional competence in this area.
This paper seeks to develop a general understanding
of the concept based on the agenda identified by the WTO. Benefits and
barriers will be discussed. Furthermore, the paper will discuss some
key issues related to implementation of the concept in the surveying
profession. The paper will look into different models for assessment
of the educational base as well as models for assessment of
professional competence. The role of the national institutions will be
highlighted in this regard. In short, The paper attempts to develop a
common language for discussing the whole issue of mutual recognition
of professional qualifications.
Globalisation of services is a topical issue and it
is on the very top of the international agenda. We need to respond to
this challenge and devise the means to ensure global free movement, so
that the process reflects the requirements of the surveyor. However,
in order to work anywhere in the world, we need to be sure that our
professional qualifications will be recognised globally and, to date,
that is not happening. Until we have total freedom to practice world
wide, and that means recognition of our qualifications by other
governments, professional bodies and by international clients,
surveyors are not going to be in a position to respond to the global
challenge.
It is argued that mutual recognition of
qualifications is the best process to be adopted if the free movement
of professionals is to be achieved efficiently and effectively. This
should be undertaken at the level of professional institutions. It
should not be introduced with the force of government. The whole
process should be underpinned by efficient communication between
organisations which recognise, both the areas of professional
activities undertaken by their members and the quality of the output
of each of these organisations’ professional qualifications.
Indeed, the WTO is seeking co-operation and
involvement with the international professional bodies in professional
services (such as FIG) for the establishment of mutual recognition
agreements or bilateral agreements in order to achieve free trade in
professional services
There is an attraction in developing and extending
the principle of mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
Mutual recognition allows each country to retain its own kind of
professional education and training because it is based, not on the
process of achieving professional qualifications, but on the nature
and quality of the outcome of that process.
Mutual recognition assumes an appropriate process
of pre-qualificational education and training and encourages dialogue
between professional organisations in each country in order to
investigate the nature of the professional activities, the
professional qualifications, and the details of pre- and
post-qualification education and training. It therefore concentrates,
not on the process of qualification, but on the outcome of that
process.
In principle, it does not matter how individuals
become qualified in their own country, the important fact is that they
ARE qualified. It is suggested that this concentration, not on the
process of qualification, but on the outcome of the process of
qualification is one which should be emulated by surveyors in the
system which they adopt. In turn, this should lead to an enhancement
of the global professional competence of the surveying profession.
The paper will present the approach taken by the
task force for dealing with these ambitious goals. Models are
currently being developed at the European level in co-operation with
the CLGE (The Council of European Geodetic Surveyors). These models
will be presented and discussed at a comprehensive seminar to be held
in Delft, The Netherlands in November 2000. The outcome of these
discussions should then form the basis the development of a world wide
model.
The profile and current material of the FIG
Task Force on Mutual Recognition can be found on the FIG web site:
www.ddl.org/figtree/.
Prof. Stig Enemark
Chair of the FIG Task Force on Mutual Recognition
Aalborg University
Fibigerstrede 11
DK-9220 Aalborg,
DENMARK
E-mail: enemark@land.aau.dk
Dr. Frances Plimmer
Secretary of the FIG Task Force on Mutual Recognition
University of Glamorgan
CF37 1DL
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: fplimmer@glam.ac.uk
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