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Session Title: Professional Designation for Evaluators in Canada: Where We Are Now
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Panel Session 204 to be held in Capitol Ballroom Section 3 on Thursday, Nov 6, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
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Sponsored by the AEA Conference Committee
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| Chair(s): |
| Martha McGuire,
Cathexis Consulting,
martha@cathexisconsulting.ca
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| Discussant(s):
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| Jean King,
University of Minnesota,
kingx004@umn.edu
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| Abstract:
The Canadian Evaluation Society is in the process of developing a system for voluntary professional designations following extensive consultations process with the memberships and associated organizations. This panel discussion will examine the issues of credentialing of evaluators and its role in informing evaluation policies by presenting the recent development in CES. A Professional Designation Core Committee (PDCC) was established by CES National Council to lead the project and has constituted three sub-committees to address identified activity streams - infrastructure, credentialing and partnerships/outreach. The PDCC undertook a 'cross-walk' of different extant knowledge bases in order to develop a comprehensive list of evaluator competencies.' The panel will invite discussions based on their presentations of: the proposed Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice that draws from all of the references in the crosswalk and reflects the current Canadian evaluation environment; the role and the progress of the three sub committees in bringing the forward.
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Overview of Professional Designation for Evaluators
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| Heather Buchanan,
Jua Management Consulting Services,
hbuchanan@jua.ca
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| Brigitte Maicher,
Net Results and Associates,
maicherb@nb.sympatico.ca
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| Keiko Kuji Shikatani,
Independent Consultant,
kujikeiko@aol.com
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The Professional Development Core Committee members will present the overall plan of the Professional designation project including the development of Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice. The proposed system for credentialing evaluators in Canada rests on three important aspects, which collectively define and shape evaluation practice. These three pillars are standards, ethic and competencies. Standards define for the practitioner the acceptable characteristics of evaluation products and services. Competencies are the skills, knowledge and abilities required in a person practicing evaluation. Ethics then provide an umbrella, under which the competencies are applied and products produced. The presentation of the three pillars will demonstrate the crosscutting and overlapping nature of these three dimensions. This is not a static picture. It is one which needs to evolve as the demand and supply of evaluation services evolves and grows over time, in response to both changing contexts and innovation within the profession itself.
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A Competency Profile for Canadian Evaluators?
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| Brigitte Maicher,
Net Results and Associates,
maicherb@nb.sympatico.ca
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In order to implement the professional designation project in Canada three objectives were identified and subcommittees were aligned with each objective.
This presentation will focus on one of these objectives. 'To recognize degrees of competency within Canadian evaluation practice'
The process entails the development of measurable criteria from the validated competencies. The presentation will report on the validation process of the criteria and how they are to be applied to the two designations 'Credentialed Evaluator' and the official 'Member Category'. The selection and functions of the Credentialing Board, the integration of continuing evaluation education, experience, education and equivalencies as well as grand-parenting proposals will be discussed. The dispute mechanism will be described.
The presentation will outline the challenges encountered and aim to engage the audience.
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Partnership and Outreach Component of the Professional Designation Project
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| Heather Buchanan,
Jua Management Consulting Services,
hbuchanan@jua.ca
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Present about: Partnerships and Outreach undertaken in the development and implementation (to date) of professional designations. The presentation will focus on the challenges encountered in:
- actively and meaningfully engage with both the demand and supply side of 'evaluation' in Canada, and engage the international evaluation community on the professional designation system being designed in Canada.
The professional designation project is guided by principles of inclusiveness, partnering, utility, feasibility and transparency, all framed in a volunteer, fiscally constrained and rapid paced environment. An overview of the communication and consultation mechanisms employed will be provided, highlighting the successes and lessons learned. Importantly the presentation will discuss the extent to which the work of this project served to build and augment CES' outreach to and partnerships with those who are impacted by and / or support professionalizing evaluation practice in Canada.
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Working In Tandem To Build An Infrastructure for the CES Professional Designation System
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| Keiko Kuji Shikatani,
Independent Consultant,
kujikeiko@aol.com
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The Infrastructure Sub Committee (ISC) was established to create a sustainable infrastructure for a system of professional designation services to CES members. This includes: identifying and designing the infrastructure required to support professional designations (administrative support, systems, procedures, etc); identifying policy and constitutional implications and change needs; preparing costing for the ongoing operation of the system; developing the fee structure (or fee structure options) for a system of voluntary professional designations; developing/designing the organizational structure and accountability mechanisms for ongoing delivery of the new 'services / program'; and liaising with CSC in the definition and establishment of a system for complaints regarding professional designations. We will present our progress up-to-date and issues encountered in working in tandem with the other sub committees in an integrated manner as actions in each will be informed by and contribute to the agenda of them.
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