Results from 1,052 graduates of IPWEA’s Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning provide clear evidence that professional accredited training programs are key to addressing the current skills shortage with significant improvements in capability reported.
The self-assessment surveys conducted over two years compare pre and post course data and show participants have achieved an average 67% uplift in their proficiency across all 12 capability areas, with the average moving from ‘Advanced Beginner’ to ‘Proficient.’
Ninety percent of participants reported they have applied learnings in their workplace immediately, with one of the biggest improvements reported in their ability to prepare an asset management plan – which is vital for the sustainable management of infrastructure assets.
David Jenkins, CEO of Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), said these results show that specialised education is directly raising the quality of asset management skills and practices, ensuring greater professional compliance.
“The Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning has educated a generation of professionals and is recognised as the global standard.
“The Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit highlighted the need to deliver a high-quality labour force through skills and training; this result goes to the heart of the solution – industry delivering world-class education and mentoring that makes an immediate impact to employers.
“This globally delivered course is having a real impact on what we expect from Asset Managers, in Australia and New Zealand but also across the Pacific Islands, Canada and the USA.
“Investing in quality educational programs is one of the long-term solutions to the current skills crisis,” says Jenkins.
Over eight years, IPWEA and education partner Cahoot Learning’s pedagogical education approach of the course drives higher levels of engagement from participants and leverages the experience of expert IPWEA mentors to impart real world experience.
This blend of real-world experience and theory provides participants with a holistic view of the profession and allows them to maximise their learnings from the course.
Participants also reported significant advances in the ability to articulate the benefits of assessment planning, audit a completed asset management plan, identify and document plan improvements and connect expenditure projections to long term financial, climate adaptation and strategic plans.