In a significant step towards strengthening the Social Standards certification process, the SPESSE project held a crucial workshop to harmonize the curriculum across its Centres of Excellence (CEs). The workshop, which took place from December 18th to 20th, 2023, at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre at the University of Lagos, focused on aligning the existing curriculum with the certification guidelines developed by the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Social Standards Node (SSN).
The primary objective of the workshop was to create a unified curriculum that would ensure consistency across the six Centres of Excellence. By harmonizing Tracks A and B, which were previously used separately in the CEs, the workshop aimed to streamline the certification process and guarantee that all professional components and subjects required for the Social Standards certification were comprehensively covered.
With experts and educators from the CEs present, the workshop facilitated a thorough review of the curriculum framework. This collaborative effort was designed to ensure that the professional standards expected of Social Standards graduates were met across all institutions. By merging the two tracks into one cohesive curriculum, the workshop sought to ensure that all students from the Centres of Excellence would receive consistent and high-quality training that meets the certification requirements set out by the SPESSE project.
The harmonization process was not just about alignment; it was also about refining and enhancing the content to reflect current trends and best practices in the social standards and procurement field. As a result, the new unified curriculum will serve as a solid foundation for the development of Professional Competency-Based Questions (PCQs), which will be used to assess candidates in the certification exams.
One of the key outcomes of the workshop was the unanimous adoption of the harmonized curriculum. This new, unified curriculum will be the official guide for the six Centres of Excellence and the Social Standards Node moving forward. The harmonization also laid the groundwork for the next phase of the certification process – the creation of synopses for each topic in the curriculum. Participants in the workshop agreed to continue the development of these synopses virtually, using a dedicated WhatsApp group created for this purpose.
A clear timeline was set for finalizing the development of the synopses, with the process scheduled to be completed by January 26th, 2024. This timeline underscores the commitment of the SPESSE project to maintain momentum and ensure that all elements of the curriculum are refined and ready for the certification process.
Additionally, the workshop highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation by the Social Standards Node. The Node will be responsible for overseeing the application of the newly harmonized curriculum across the Centres of Excellence to ensure that the standards are being met consistently and effectively.