• UNIVERSITY
HAPPENINGS
Richard Hemi This is a very opportune moment for Survey and Spatial NZ to be considering the role of education and professional development, as it comes at the same time as the Reciprocating Surveyors’ Boards of Australia and New Zealand (CRSBANZ) begins a review of the national standard of competency for licensed/ registered surveyors in New Zealand and in the states of Australia.
A
n Issues and Opportunities
are acquired in the workplace from
paper has been produced by
professional and technical practice
the council: https://sssi.org.
and can be assessed against defined
au/SSSI/files/cd/cd23dc86-4c86-49f1-
standards. Experience is also acquired
9a4b-36af69fb1916.pdf which pro-
in professional practice over time as
vides a background to the intended
a candidate gets involved in different
review process and objectives. This
forms of work and more complex and
paper is worth a read for members
varied survey situations.
interested in this topic, with feedback expected by mid-March. The review, and its proposed
We often say a university student may have knowledge of a surveying method and will have undertaken
development of a national standard
a method once or twice during
of competency across these juris-
the course of a degree, but will
dictions will push the Australasian
not carry it out in an extended or
survey industry to consider some very
repeated manner that allows it to be
important questions as we move
considered a competent skill. There
forward, such as the broad range
is nothing like pegging a subdivision,
of work and modes of practice that
or setting out a construction site for
we engage in, changing needs and
weeks or months on end to ensure a
trends in surveying, risks to the indus-
graduate can undertake a skilled task
try, expected graduate competencies
with confidence.
and postgraduate training needs. A
In New Zealand we expect an
broader question that continues to be
undergraduate degree in surveying
posed, but which will hopefully be
to satisfy a broad range of surveying
informed by the review, is workforce
and land development knowledge
recruitment and supply chain.
requirements. Measurement science,
Some readers may be surprised to
error analysis, land development
know that New Zealand and the eight
engineering principles, cadastral law
states or territories of Australia have
to name but a few. With the School of
had a system of mutual recognition
Surveying approaching its 60th year
of professional qualifications in
in 2023 (conference in Dunedin 2023
surveying since the late 19th century.
reminder), the knowledge outcomes
The review document states: “This
for graduates are well understood.
commitment was established at the
There have always been gradual
initial conference of Reciprocating
modifications over time, and the
Surveying Boards in 1892 and
school is currently in another round
subsequently embodied in the survey
of curriculum review – a full academic
legislation of all jurisdictions to
review of papers and progression
ensure cadastral surveying qualifica-
through the Bachelor of Surveying, as
tion requirements in each jurisdiction
well as its other BSc degrees – Land
to remain broadly compatible.”
Planning and Development, Survey
The review document breaks down
Measurement and GIS. The CRSBANZ
the assessment of competencies
review is therefore very timely for
of a candidate hoping to become
the school and we are excited by the
licensed or registered into three main
prospect of a modernised curriculum.
elements: knowledge, skills and
We also look forward to working
experience.
closely with the CRSBANZ on its review
Knowledge is attained academically at a tertiary institution in the form of a degree in surveying. Skills
project. As most degree graduates will recall, summer employment and
SURVEYING+SPATIAL
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Issue 107 March 2022 41
