Dear Bernadette
A number of excellent points and pithy comments! Yes, it is probably
true that (a) the culture is different in Oz from the US, and (b) we do
have a changing post-school environment here, if not internationally,
particularly with the increasing numbers of RTOs. Personally, I think
that it is quite appropriate that vocational and industry level
qualifications are encouraged and supported. As you no doubt are aware,
a four year vocational level education is now regarded as equivalent to
a BA degree. You are quite right: universities cannot be all things to
all people, and perhaps may not provide the ultimate answer to this
question.
For most of the 20th century, universities have engaged in the dilemma
of providing a broad 'education' as well as the necessary knowledge and
acquisition of skills ('training') that is required for the actual
performance of a job - the 'bread ticket', if you will. I can remember
reading of the controversy that surrounded incorporating schools of
engineering and medicine into universities! My own university is very
focused on providing 'professional qualifications' - we do not offer any
'general' degrees (but you can study journalism, nursing, engineering,
education, and so forth).
However, I would still like to see more research activity and publishing
in the field...and this is likely only to be encouraged and supported at
university level.
All the best
Sue
-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Bean, Bernadette (HEALTH)
Sent: Wednesday, 19 October 2005 11:27 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Competencies for Records and Information Professionals
I'm prompted to pop my head up from long time lurker status because this
topic is a passion of mine.
I'm basing my comments below on my Australian experience...I don't know
if
the same applies in the US. I suspect the qualifications issue is a
little
different as Australia has never had the level of participation in
post-high
school (tertiary) education that is the norm in the US and my experience
is
that we view the holding of a post-high school qualification somewhat
differently than my relatives in the US do.
However...
Sue's comment that the CRM doesn't have the same status as PhD or
Masters is
correct as far as it goes. Without presuming to speak on Sue's behalf I
would suggest that her comments are influenced by her background and
experience (as all of our comments are). Sue's background is in
educational
institutions where, for obvious reasons, an 'academic' qualification is
always going to be more valued than an 'industry' qualification.
However, in many industries the vocational or industry qualifications
(such
as CRM) have equal or greater status than traditional academic
qualifications. IT and HR spring to mind as sectors where
non-traditional
(or vocational) qualifications are often more sought after, even at a
management level, than the traditional style qualifications. In my own
sector, the Health sector, there is a definite shift towards the valuing
of
non-traditional qualifications. Clearly doctors still require
traditional
qualifications, however many of the allied health professions are
experimenting with more vocational style qualifications such as the CRM
appears to be. That is, the person is already working in the field and
carries out some form of regulated study while working in the field.
The
study is usually regulated by some sort of professional body which has
the
sort of specialist expertise and passion that most tertiary institutions
cannot match.
So, I think the status of a CRM qualification will, to some extent,
depend
on the core business of the organisation where the records manager is
working. A University for example is more likely perhaps to value an
academic qualification in RM or IM, while an IT company or HR company
might
value a vocational qualification such as the CRM just as much, if not
more
than, an academic qualification.
We in RM/IM, like many similar industries, certainly need to work on the
issue of qualifications and their acceptance by those outside our
profession
(I agree with Sue that we seem to waste a lot of time preaching to the
choir). But I disagree with Sue that "university accredited"
qualifications
are the only way to gain such acceptance
With such factors as
* ageing workforces (who are likely to have to or want to work longer
than
traditional retirement age)
* the loss of lifetime careers (i.e. the figures showing adults are
likely
to have 2 or 3 completely separate careers in their lifetimes these
days)
* technology / changing workplace practices (i.e. in most industries it
is
simply impossible these days to gain a qualification at age 22 and have
that
qualification remain relevant for your entire working life)
most organisations are slowly realising that having qualified workforces
is
important and they are also realising that traditional academic
institutions
simply cannot meet the rapidly growing need.
I'm not sure what the right answer is for RM. Unlike Glenn I let my
RMAA
professional membership lapse 3 or 4 years ago as I didn't see a
personal
ROI on my annual fee (not being a professional member did not hinder me
from
gaining 2 promotions). I've never encountered an employer here in Aus
who
would care less whether I am a professional member of the RMAA or
not...but
by the same token I've also not encountered one who would care less that
I
do actually have a Masters Degree in Information Management Systems (so
that
Was $6k well spent...but we won't go into how bitter and twisted I am
about
that). So maybe the US system of CRMs is heading in the right
direction...or maybe there's another alternative we haven't thought of
yet??
Cheers, Bernadette
Bernadette Bean
bus ph: 8226 6154
email: [log in to unmask]
When life hands you lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt
This e-mail is personal. It is not authorised by, nor sent on behalf of,
the
Department of Health or the Government of South Australia. It is your
responsibility to scan this email and any attachment for viruses and
defects
as the Department of Health does not accept any liability for loss or
damage
arising from receipt or use of this e-mail or any attachments.
List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
|
