New occupational standards for motor vehicle damage assessors were yesterday launched as part of ongoing collaboration between the Malta Chamber of Motor Assessors, the Malta Qualifications Council (MQC) and the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU).
Occupational standards specify what main jobs involve, describing the professional tasks that need to be undertaken as well as the activities and the typical competences required for particular occupations. These standards are therefore classifications and definitions of the main jobs skills.
These new standards are part of a series being drafted. So far, work is taking place on standards for: Electric engineering and electronics, mechanical engineering, business and commerce, building and construction, agri-commerce, community services, art and design, cultural heritage and tourism.
A main feature of occupational standards is that they link qualifications to the requirements of the labour market. The rationale for developing occupational standards is the strong assumed link between employment requirements and education when qualifications are related to occupational standards.
Occupational standards therefore involve the identification of the knowledge, skills and abilities required for people to carry out certain jobs.
These standards serve different functions: For designing training curricula; in providing certification; and in helping employers appreciate the skills within their workforce and in recruitment. The Malta Chamber of Motor Assessors (MCMA) was founded in 2011 and represents more than 20 Maltese motor vehicle assessors, who are responsible for a range of activities particularly: Vehicle damage assessment; mechanical failures; vehicle fire investigations; electrical failures; expert witness; repairer assessment; car fleet surveys; conciliation and arbitration.
The MCMA is fully affiliated with the GRTU and operates from its offices, in Valletta. The GRTU statute regulates the MCMA, and its members also follow a code of conduct that includes sanctions in the event of a member being in breach of the provisions of the code.
Among the technical competences of motor vehicle assessors are: MDA T 401, to understand, identify and agree motor damage customer needs; MDA T 402, to establish and document motor damage customer needs and motor vehicle data; MDA T 403, to compile a pre-risk evaluation report, and MDA T 404, to appraise motor damage and establish correct repair method estimating cost and vehicle valuation.
Speaking at the introduction of a seminar, held at The Palace, in Sliema yesterday, Dr Philip von Brockdorff, executive head of the MQC said the skills of Maltese workers are essential to enterprises. Meanwhile, skills development does not end at school or with training courses but is an ongoing process.
Consequently, there needs to be quality standards for these skills to have value and for workers to be properly recognised.
The standards serve as a benchmark for skills to be assessed and indicate the best working practices. These need to be regularly updated to remain relevant. He also pointed out that the workplace is not only the place where one earns money but also where skills are learnt.
“Socio-economic strength depends of the success of these initiatives,” he said.
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said the first similar standards, for printing, were launched in March 2010.
She drew a parallel between the standards for childcare centres, on which a draft document was launched yesterday, and these standards, noting that Malta needs to have ongoing training, education, the fostering of skills, and assessment of the sort of training given.
“The future of any country depends on a lot of human resources but this is more so here,” she said. “Educational institutions need to respond to market needs.”