15
th
International Congress on Archives
Hoy
www.wien2004.ica.org
11
professional status. I believe the archives and records profession could benefit from the increased value
being placed on lifelong learning.
In the second half of 2004, the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) is scheduled to review
of the current recordkeeping competency standards. This is an opportunity for the archives and records
profession to broaden the scope of competencies to the tertiary level, should there be sufficient interest
by the recordkeeping industry, and also to consider how the competencies can be adapted for
professional development. The review should be mindful of the concerns documented in the literature
about not focusing too much on performance, but instead consider the humanist paradigm, emerging
theories about adult learning and the importance of values in the learning process.
AS ISO 15482002 Records Management has the potential to be a source for collaborative but
culturally sensitive development of theory, knowledge and professional practice. This standard is the
closest we have to a functional road map for the sector and could be a starting point for designing
learning frameworks.
If the frameworks could map back to the standard, then different cultural or
community values could be reflected. The planned review of the standard may be an opportunity to
explore how it could support professional development.
The statement of intent arising out of the Archives and Records Education Stakeholders (ARES) Forum
recognised the importance of professional development and discussed several initiatives currently
being developed to help inform future directions.
The Forum's recommendations reflect a similar
view held in the International Council of Archives (ICA) community. A recent survey by the ICA of its
members' priorities for the period 200406 revealed that six of the seven recommendations related
directly to professional development, such as:
·
training and guidance in electronic records and automation of archival processes;
·
promotion of professional education and research on professional responsibilities;
·
training in restoration of traditional materials;
·
development of archival capacity action plans, which would include professional
development;
·
promotion of networks or communities of practice to exchange experiences and learn from
each other; and
·
standards and best practice in training and education.
My own hope is that the profession reflects on the nature and impact of the variety of competencies and
capabilities that have been developed so far, in much more detail than has been possible in this paper.
62
OECD, Lifelong Learning Highlights, p. 4; OECD Policy Brief on Lifelong Learning, p. 2. Other publications
about lifelong learning include: R, Fryer (Chair), `Learning for the 21st Century. First Report of the National
Advisory Group for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning', 1997, Lifelong Learning website (United
Kingdom):
http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/nagcell/part3.htm
(accessed 7 June 2004) and Treasury Board of
Canada Secretariat, `A Policy for Continuous Learning in the Public Service of Canada', 2002, Treasury Board of
Canada Secretariat website:
http://www.tbs--sct.gc.ca/media/nr--cp/2002/0515_e.asp
(accessed 7 June 2004).
63
Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), `BSB01 Business Services (Recordkeeping) Training
Package', 2004, ANTA website:
http://www.anta.gov.au/trainingPackage.asp?qsID=304
(accessed 16 May 2004).
Effective 1 July 2004, the industry training advisory functions of Business Services Training Australia (BSTA),
including Training Package development, review and sales of training products, will be transferred to the Business
and Innovation Industry Skills Council. The effect of this administrative change may delay the planned review, but
it is still expected to proceed. More details can be found on the ANTA website:
http://www.anta.gov.au/vetitabs.asp
.
64
Beattie, p. 134.
65
International Council on Archives (ICA), `Flash: What's New?' Number 3, April, 2004, ICA website:
http://www.ica.org/biblio/Flash3E.pdf
(accessed 5 June 2004).
66
ARES Forum, p. 5.
67
International Council on Archives (ICA), `Flash: What's New?' Number 2, December, 2003, ICA website:
http://www.ica.org/biblio/Flash2E.pdf
(accessed 5 June 2004).
