Question Three: How should the acquisition of these skills be recognized by the sector or stream?

~ MTCU, Practitioner Training Strategy
October 1999

OVERVIEW

To begin our exploration of this third question with practitioners, we defined recognition as the acknowledgment of achievement, ability or status. We hoped this definition would help avoid any confusion between recognition (certification) and appreciation. Both surveys asked practitioners to identify the various types of recognition they receive and who provided this recognition. We also collected information on future skills recognition — why skills should be recognized and the types of recognition that should be provided. Respondents were given checklists and space to add their own suggestions. Responses to these questions provided useful information about the ways in which skills recognition is currently achieved, as well as recommendations for skills recognition in the future.

We knew from our survey results that there was strong support for skills recognition, but we were also concerned that there was still some confusion between the terms "skills recognition" and "appreciation." Focus group questions were formulated to expand on the data collected from the surveys and to help practitioners understand that we were discussing skills recognition, or certification, not appreciation. Materials created for use in the focus group sessions can be found in the Appendix.