of the definition of a European competency model, but in proposing guidelines
which would enable any institution, organization, or association to develop its
own competency model. One would be able, from these guidelines, to develop a
competency model, whatever the culture, context or working environment can be.
The study would stimulate and support one's reflection, proposing to take into
account, among other elements, the specific context in which the professionals
are working, the potential partners which could be involved in the process. Advice
related to the promotion of the tool could be part of the study: which concrete
objectives should be assigned to the competency model, how to present it, which
kind of arguments should be used to campaign for it according to the target.
In a meeting held in the framework of the international congress in Kuala
Lumpur, in July 2008, as the project was taking shape and its structure became
clearer, the composition of the working group was refined. Caroline Brown and
Patricia Whatley, from the Dundee University, expressed their deep interest
in participating. Several associations having an experience in this field, and
represented in the first working group8, appointed their specialist to develop the
guidelines: Berndt Frederiksson for the Swedish Association of Archivists, Josep
Conejo Muntada, from the Association of Catalonian Archivists, and Agnès
Dejob, from the French Association of Archivists, who accepted to be the project
manager. The Dutch Association could not be absent from the working group.
I asked Fred Van Kan to provide me with a name for KVAN, and I think that we
had the same name in mind...Thijs Laeven accepted to join the group.
Two EURBICA countries accepted to participate actively, Spain, with Maria del
Carmen Cuevas Blanco, and Finland with Jari Lybeck.
The international congress was a great opportunity for us to share with
professionals outside Europe and consider different perspectives. The session
proposed by the Australian Society of Archivists was particularly enlightening,
while Marilyn Bier and Cheryl Pederson presented the ARMA model (Association
of American Records Managers and Administrators). Though the approaches
could be different, they had the same questions as we had. However the
response is significantly different, at least as regards the work of the ARMA.
Pragmatism seems to have led the reflection for developing the model which
is rather presented as a tool for individual assessment, in a very concrete and
practical way. The competencies required are defined in measurable, quantifiable
terms. Any of the skills associated with a level of position may be rated on a
scale ranging from 1 to 4. Thus an individual can know about weaknesses and
strengths, and will be able to explore ways to acquire the skills that he needs.
You can check if your professional skills match your job, and easily evaluate your
chances to progress in the organization or in your career. On the other hand, the
employer will be provided with an immediate evaluation of the staff member's
skills and will be able to set up a collective training plan. This self-assessment can
be done online. While the model focuses on career management, it is nonetheless
useful for an understanding of the position of archives within an organization.
Beyond different approaches, we can perceive different philosophies: while
the ARMA priority is to help archivists to adapt themselves to their working
CHRISTINE MARTINEZ WHEN CHRISTINE MEETS HANS OR AM I A COMPETENT ARCHIVIST?
8 The first working group could have been considered as the "strategic group" which defined the objective
and form of the project. The second working group would develop the handbook.
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