On 25 Jan 17 we ran a fast track professional registration workshop for our technical staff who expressed an interested in professional registration or were members of professional bodies.
Agne Sniukstaite, Relationship Manager (Science Council), facilitated the event. Agne was supported by Jonathan Cresswell (FIScT), Clive Betts, Florian Bayer (RSci), Gavyn Rollinson (CSci), Daniela Farina (RSci), Jackie Tucker (Environment Agency NLS, RSci), and Rob Carter (Environment Agency NLS, CSci and IST Assessor).
The format of the workshop was as follows:
- First 15 minutes. An introduction to the Science Council and Professional registration plus a few tips on completing your competence report. The main part of the workshop will consist of five 25-30 minute long sections, designed to cover the 5 areas of competence. Each heading is broken down into 2 or 3 parts that enable applicants to really be detailed and specific in their thinking.
- Part 1 – Application of Knowledge and Understanding. Participants will be asked to think about how their work makes use of their underpinning knowledge. We don’t just want to hear about what they know, but how they apply it, and how their understanding informs their everyday decisions and resolution of problems.
- Part 2 – Personal Responsibility. Here we will think about how far personal responsibility extends in the workplace. When do employees take personal responsibility? Are there times they have had to exercise their personal responsibility, either on behalf of themselves or someone else? What were the inputs and outputs?
- Part 3 – Interpersonal Skills. We want to see that our scientists can demonstrate superior people skills. In this section, we will think about communication between colleagues, peers, and stakeholders.
- Part 4 – Professional Practice. This section is about procedures, methods and resources. The participants will be encouraged to think and reflect on times they have picked various methods and techniques, and any steps they’ve taken to make improvements to resources in their workplace.
- Part 5- Professionalism. This part of the competence report wants to see that the applicants understand their relevant codes of conducts and practice, and can assess why they are necessary and how to adhere to them. We will also talk about how the applicants enhance and maintain their own professional development.
- Throughout the sections, the participants will be encouraged to keep thinking about and making notes of examples in their working lives that demonstrate all these areas of competence.
Next Steps
- Delegates will complete their applications through the Science Council’s online system before the 28 Feb 17. This will ensure that the assessors have enough time to read their applications before their interviews (if they are taking that route). If they are not having an interview, applications should be completed no later than 31 Mar 17. Note: I will confirm payment details for University of Exeter staff to cover initial membership fee proportion of the cost (up to £45).
- (Optional) Face to Face interview – I have informed the Science Council assessors of the staff who have expressed an interest in the face to face interviews for the day you chose. I will be in touch in due course to arrange times and locations for your interview. These will be done via video conference so you don’t lose too much time from your day. An assessor from the Science Council will discuss your application and work through your examples with you. The face to face assessment requires you to provide an online competence report, however this is used to guide the Science Council in assigning assessors with the relevant skills and experience, and to help the assessors prepare for the face to face interview. It therefore does not need to be as comprehensive as for an online assessment. The evidence you provide in the interview will be what the assessors use to make their decision.
- Presentation of Certificates – We hope to get the science council or professional body to present successful applicants with their certificate at the technical services conference on 6 Jul 17. Generally you will receive these at your home address directly. It would be great if delegates were able to bring their certificates in so we could present it formally to you to celebrate your success.
Delegates Feedback:
- Enjoyed working/discussing in groups on the examples.
- Hearing examples from their colleagues.
- Advice and feedback from RSci/CSci mentors and an application assessor.
- Advice/guidance on how to complete the application competencies, and the detail required.
- One-to-one guidance with part A questions.
- Information on the application process.
- Meeting different people
- Impetus to get going to a deadline.
Positives/lessons learnt that our delegates took away from the event were:
- Now have rough examples for most of the questions.
- How to answer the questions on the application form and what is needed.
- One to one guidance – a very useful introduction to the application process for registration.
- The everyday dynamic of working in a science environment and how to use daily work examples. Think more critically about what I do each day and how it can be used in my application.
- Even simple processes are valuable.
- Fill in the application perfectly to minimise the amount of back and forth from incomplete answers – check with a college before submitting.
- Be specific in application.
- Don’t be shy, say how good you are and what you do.
- Mixing with peers and learning by listening to others.
- Useful to have input from experts in the workshop session.
- CAR method – Context, Actions and Results for each answer.
- Feeling empowered to undertake professional registration.
- How to breakdown the questions.
- Use of “I” not “we” in the application.
Thank you to all those who attended, and supported the event.