22. How are labour competency standards specified?

The following chart includes an average labour competency standard. It may be observed that it is formed by the unit of competency (minimum level of competency), elements of competency, performance criteria, evidence of performance, evidence of knowledge, field of application and a brief guide to conduct the assessment.

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional presentation of a competency standard

UNIT TITLE: The productive function defined at that level in the functional map. A general description of the set of elements.
ELEMENT TITLE: What a worker is capable of doing.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA A result and an assessment statement that proves the worker’s performance, and, therefore, his competency.	EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR ASSESSMENT
	EVIDENCE OF PERFORMANCE
	DIRECT PERFORMANCE Situations against which the work’s result is shown.	PRODUCT EVIDENCE Tangible results used as evidence.
FIELDS OF APPLICATION	EVIDENCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND COMPREHENSION
It includes the different circumstances –at the workplace, materials and organisational environment– under which the competency is developed.	It specifies the knowledge that allows workers to achieve a competent performance. It includes knowledge concerning the principles, methods or theories applied to fulfil the action described in the element.
ASSESSMENT GUIDE It establishes the assessment methods and the use of evidence to assess competency.

It should be pointed out that the above is the traditional layout of the LCS used in experiences such as the ones of the United Kingdom and Mexico. Variations to this format may be found in the experiences organised at training institutions such as INTECAP, INA and SENA. Those variations maintain essential components such as the elements of performance and the corresponding evidence and criteria. The main differences may be found in issues such as: giving an alternative name to elements of competency (vocational accomplishments, achievements, etc.), making a more thorough description of the evidence of knowledge required so as to facilitate the development of competency-based training programmes, giving a detailed account of the tools and equipment used in order to give an idea of the assets of training workshops.

 

 

 

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