08-11-2010, 03:24 AM
By Ir. Ahmad Jais Alias
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Being a professional myself, I ponder the question above. With the number of cases involving professionals on the rise, especially those involving public safety and health, one may be asking the same question: Are Professionals Learning Enough?
When referring to professionals, we are implying a person working in a field of employment or profession that fulfils the following criteria: i) the job needs a certain level of knowledge and skill acquired through formal and informal education and training; ii) the job is regulated and controlled by a body, organisation or association, dedicated in developing the profession; and iii) the work is beneficial to the society, both in providing services and products without causing harm to both society and the environment.
Take engineering for example. To be an engineer, one must study engineering at the very least to a degree. This study of engineering needs to be accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), through the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC). Only those studying in accredited programmes are awarded an engineering degree.
In this country, the course offered for engineering students normally take between four years (for those admitted having completed Matriculation or STPM) and five years (for those enrolling in university directly following SPM). In other countries, namely Germany and Russia, the duration may be longer, up to six or seven years, to be trained as engineers.
If the aforementioned question is asked to those students (bearing in mind they would need to study for five or six years), perhaps they would answer, 'Yes'.
But is that really the case? Is the education and training received by these professionals (including engineers, doctors, architects, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, managers etc.) enough for them to cope with the actual job? Are they ready for employment with that level of knowledge, skill and professionalism?
BEING A PROFESSIONAL NEEDS MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE
Being a professional not only requires one to possess adequate knowledge on the subject matter, but the nature of the job will also demand him/her to have a firm resolve in making right judgements and decisions. If the decision involves a greater allocation, or if the project is so massive it may affect many people or the public at large, the burden of making the correct decision is heavier.
Sometimes there are cases where other factors (not merely involving simple professional judgements based on accepted theories or technical rules) need to be considered which require professionals to 'think out of the box'. Therefore, challenges faced by professionals, warrant those professional bodies to scrutinise the education and professional development of their members.
In view of this development, we need to encourage professionals to further enhance their professional development. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a must for professionals in order to cope with current challenges in their work environment. They should not stop training and learning once they have been granted degrees since technology and new findings are not static and need continuous updating.
In addition, professionals need to continuously improve themselves in terms of building a strong character, being trustworthy, being true to their decisions, and so on which will ennoble their respective professions.
There is a saying narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which encourages the seeking of knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Lifelong learning and continuous education should be encouraged in our society, especially among professionals. Lifelong learning and continuous education should be easy and cheap.
The writer is a Fellow of the Centre for Consultancy and Training at Institute for Islamic Understanding, Malaysia (IKIM) ( ahmadjais@ikim.gov.my )
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Being a professional myself, I ponder the question above. With the number of cases involving professionals on the rise, especially those involving public safety and health, one may be asking the same question: Are Professionals Learning Enough?
When referring to professionals, we are implying a person working in a field of employment or profession that fulfils the following criteria: i) the job needs a certain level of knowledge and skill acquired through formal and informal education and training; ii) the job is regulated and controlled by a body, organisation or association, dedicated in developing the profession; and iii) the work is beneficial to the society, both in providing services and products without causing harm to both society and the environment.
Take engineering for example. To be an engineer, one must study engineering at the very least to a degree. This study of engineering needs to be accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), through the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC). Only those studying in accredited programmes are awarded an engineering degree.
In this country, the course offered for engineering students normally take between four years (for those admitted having completed Matriculation or STPM) and five years (for those enrolling in university directly following SPM). In other countries, namely Germany and Russia, the duration may be longer, up to six or seven years, to be trained as engineers.
If the aforementioned question is asked to those students (bearing in mind they would need to study for five or six years), perhaps they would answer, 'Yes'.
But is that really the case? Is the education and training received by these professionals (including engineers, doctors, architects, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, managers etc.) enough for them to cope with the actual job? Are they ready for employment with that level of knowledge, skill and professionalism?
BEING A PROFESSIONAL NEEDS MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE
Being a professional not only requires one to possess adequate knowledge on the subject matter, but the nature of the job will also demand him/her to have a firm resolve in making right judgements and decisions. If the decision involves a greater allocation, or if the project is so massive it may affect many people or the public at large, the burden of making the correct decision is heavier.
Sometimes there are cases where other factors (not merely involving simple professional judgements based on accepted theories or technical rules) need to be considered which require professionals to 'think out of the box'. Therefore, challenges faced by professionals, warrant those professional bodies to scrutinise the education and professional development of their members.
In view of this development, we need to encourage professionals to further enhance their professional development. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a must for professionals in order to cope with current challenges in their work environment. They should not stop training and learning once they have been granted degrees since technology and new findings are not static and need continuous updating.
In addition, professionals need to continuously improve themselves in terms of building a strong character, being trustworthy, being true to their decisions, and so on which will ennoble their respective professions.
There is a saying narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which encourages the seeking of knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Lifelong learning and continuous education should be encouraged in our society, especially among professionals. Lifelong learning and continuous education should be easy and cheap.
The writer is a Fellow of the Centre for Consultancy and Training at Institute for Islamic Understanding, Malaysia (IKIM) ( ahmadjais@ikim.gov.my )
-- BERNAMA
