APEC TPT-WG18

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APEC TPT-WG18
Miyasaki October 2000
Towards Mutual Recognition of Transport
Professional Qualifications
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PROJECT AIMS
To identify best practice and develop mechanisms
for mutual recognition of transport professional
qualifications between APEC economies. Stage 1
Identification of priority professions Stage 2
Preparation and distribution of survey
instrument - entry requirements
(qualifications) - accreditation, licensing and
registration systems - co-operative
practices - barriers /
impediments Stage 3 Analysis of results
- establish scope for practical
model Stage 4 Establishment of framework of
recommended practices
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SELECTED PROFESSIONS

• Air traffic controller
• Flight crew
• Aircraft maintenance engineer
• Professional railway engineer
• Intermodal/logistics systems manager
• Commercial vehicle operator (truck driver)

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METHODOLOGY 1

• Initial consultations in Australia
• Six surveys designed
• Surveys endorsed by APEC TPT-WG 17
• Surveys distributed via Heads of Delegation

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METHODOLOGY 2 - Analysis

• Discussion and analysis of data utilised a range
  of inputs
• the survey responses from each economy and each
  profession -
• provide a snapshot only
• international perspectives, models and
  frameworks
• other relevant known factors about each
  profession
• outcomes of previous related surveys conducted
  by APEC and
• input and feedback from the APEC TPT-WG, the
  Steering
• Committee for this project and industry
  representatives in Australia.

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES 1

• European Union - two general directives,
  1989 and 1992

• a corresponding profession in another member
  state is one which includes a substantial
  number of the professional activities comprised
• in the profession in the host member state. Thus
  there needs to be a substantial degree of
  commonality between the professional activities
  of any profession if the terms of the Directive
  are to achieve mutual recognition.
• Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES 2
In-country/economy recognition mechanisms

• National Academic Recognition Information
  Centres (European Union)
• Canadian Information Centre for International
  Credentials
• Australian Office of Overseas Skills
  Recognition
• Permanent Committee on Evaluation and
  Recognition of Qualifications Malaysia
• International professional associations projects
• APEC Engineer project
• Mutual Recognition of Surveyors Qualifications

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES 3
Models of Mutual Recognition

• Reciprocity Agreements
• Harmonisation of Qualifications
• Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (principle
  of mutual trust)

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SURVEY RESULTS - Table of Respondents
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS (ATC) SURVEY - 12
Responses

• Commonality in general requirements to gain an
  ATC licence.
• Variations in currency and recency requirements
  of licence.
• One-quarter based training on ICAO.
• Very little recognition of foreign licences,
  qualifications experience.
• No MR agreements apart from TTMRA.
• Main restriction to employment of ATCs
  nationality or citizenship

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FLIGHT CREW (FC) SURVEY - 10 Responses

• Commonality in general requirements to gain a
  FC licence
• (depended on licence type).
• Variations in currency and recency requirements
  of licences.
• 6 out of 10 registered differences in standard
  under ICAO.
• Training varied considerably, depended on type
  of licence.
• Almost all economies recognised foreign FC
  licences, qualifications
• experiences.
• No MR agreements apart from TTMRA.

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LICENSED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS (AME)
Survey - 12 Responses

• Commonality in general requirements to gain an
  AME licence
• (depended on licence type category).
• Variations in currency and recency requirements
  of licences.
• Most economies (3/4) recognise foreign
  licences, qualifications
• and experience.
• Aust., Canada NZ had recognition
  arrangements/agreements.
• Fewer restrictions on employment of foreign
  AMEs than ATCs, but
• varied conditions.

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AVIATION Summary

• Very little evidence of mutual recognition
  agreements
• (apart from TTMRA) or interest in pursuing them.
• ICAOs standards and specifications minimum
  only?
• Uniqueness of ATC requirements stressed.
• Implications for future ICAOs auditing role.
• Motivation for mutual recognition needed for
  example,
• world wide shortage of AMEs.

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PROFESSIONAL RAILWAY ENGINEERS (PRE) SURVEY 7
Responses

• Fewer, less detailed responses.
• No separate registration needed or not always
  needed.
• Minimum qualification most commonly an
  undergraduate
• engineering degree.
• APEC Substantial Equivalence Framework for
  engineers not known
• by most respondents.

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APEC REISTER OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

• Aim To reduce the licensing and registration
  barriers to work in another economy.
• Open to engineers in participating economies who
  have
• completed an accredited or recognised
  engineering program
• been assessed within their own jurisdiction as
  eligible for independent
• practice
• gained a minimum of seven years practical
  experience since graduation
• spent at least two years in responsible charge
  of significant engineering work and
• maintained their continuing professional
  development at a satisfactory level.
• The following APEC economies were authorised
  (July) to implement the
• registers Australia Canada Hong Kong, China
  Japan Korea Malaysia
• and New Zealand.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATORS (CVO) SURVEY 10
Responses

• Almost all have national body for specifying
  licence requirements.
• 50 have economy-wide testing 50 testing done
  by range of organisations.
• Clearly identifiable performance requirements.
• Classifications varied but comparisons could be
  made.
• Very little compulsory training needed.
• Details of testing varied (eg night driving).
• Almost all have national computer data base for
  licence holders.
• All had range of procedures for recognition of
  foreign licences.
• A number of Recognition Agreements stated
  TTMRA (Aust. NZ)
• Canada, USA Mexico Land International
  Transportation Agreement
• (Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador Venezuela).

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INTERMODAL/LOGISTICS SYSTEMS MANAGERS SURVEY 8
Responses

• Range of job titles and work roles used and
  described.
• Almost no entry level qualifications required
  into above positions.
• Great variety of training in existence.
• Future skill needs identified in all areas of
  profession (eg warehouse, transport
• logistics management systems analysis IT
  skills, import-export admin.)
• No recognition arrangements mentioned.
• Possibilities of joining with other APEC
  project of Intermodal Task Force
• to develop further work in this area.

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BARRIERS AND IMPEDIMENTS TO MUTUAL RECOGNITION
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BENEFITS OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION

• Not as easily identifiable none identified in
  FC and PRE surveys.
• Most frequently stated possibility for a
  reduction of basic training, testing and
  licensing requirements and related cost-savings.
• Improve road safety and driving ability (CVOs).
• Improve performance (ATCs).
• Establish and standardise rules for issuing a
  licence (CVOs).

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Best Practice in Cooperative Arrangements,
Accreditation, Recognition and Development of
Professional Qualifications

• Land International Transportation Agreement
  (ATIT)
• Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement
  (TTMRA)
• Professional Engineers Board, Singapore
• Institution of Engineers, Australia

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Establishing the Scope for a Practical Model for
Best Practice in Mutual Recognition

• Many factors affect the possibility, need and
  motivation for recognition
• Immigration and work permit laws.
• Supply and demand in domestic labour markets.
• Common land borders and trade routes.
• Concerns about safety and other standards being
  lowered.

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PERSUADING FACTORS

• Aviation need consensus on international
  standards (ICAOs role) verifiably similar
  training shortages of AMEs.
• Professional Railway Engineers verifying other
  economies qualifications opportunities for
  exchange programs.
• Intermodal/logistics managers meeting supply
  demand, lack of local employees).
• Lessons from existing recognition models
  etcestablishment of transparent systems and
  procedures of accreditation (of programs and
  institutions), licensing and registration within
  each economy

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GUIDING PRINICIPLES FOR GOOD PRACTICE IN (MUTUAL)
RECOGNITION
Necessary Conditions

• comparable entry-level qualifications
• job description/s
• a regulatory environment (possibly international)
  
• registration requirements

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GUIDELINES FOR RECOGNITION PROCEDURES FOR
QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

• The recognition of a foreign qualification or
  licence should
• situate the qualification or licence within the
  framework of the education, training or
  licensing system to which it belongs
• identify the level and type of qualification or
  licence in the system of the economy in which
  recognition is sought and
• determine whether similarities between foreign
  and domestic qualifications or licences are
  sufficient for recognition to be granted.

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STAGE 4 OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION PROJECT