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Harmonised ETQ&C
EWF’s access to European funding was to enhance the
examination database through the development of more than 600
questions that were eventually added to the database in five different
languages. These were then evaluated through pilot tests conducted
with ANBs throughout the IIW IAB network. The initial aim,
as Guild commented, was to have 25% of all questions in an
examination paper populated from the database. The key driver
behind the development of the examination question database
was Mr Italo Fernandes (Portugal). In subsequent years the
numbers of questions generated from the database were to
increase substantially through his efforts and those of the many
volunteers from IIW ANBs that had worked tirelessly on the
compilation and verification of questions and answers for the database.
Germany was by far the biggest supporter of both EWF and IIW IAB
diplomas, with China in terms of numbers becoming the most prominent
supporter of the IIW IAB scheme outside of Europe. With respect to
certification for companies, Italy was also quite prominent although a
developing interest by several Balkan countries, such as Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Romania, was to accelerate company
certification in this region.
The outstanding work of the WG-RA, with its involvement
in regional cooperation and the establishment of networks of
Technology Support Centres and Education and Training Centres
were guiding factors in this success. Prof. Dr-Ing. Dorin Dehelean,
Executive Director of the Romanian Welding Society, was the key
figure on the ground who was able to unite the countries of South
Eastern Europe in a common cause and saw this involvement as a
means to raise the technical and living standards of the people
in the region.
31
In the first year of operation, the involvement by
countries in company certification was totally European in
nature, with a total of 14 IIW ANBCCs from Europe and only three applications pending
external to Europe. The following years were periods of consolidation through the
continuation of activities in updating existing guidelines and the development of new ones
to address potential markets such as certification of welders. Europe, it must be said, still
accounted for 80% of all diplomas issued although diplomas outside of Europe were now
starting to increase due mainly to greater interest in the ‘Triple A Region’ – Asia, Africa,
Australasia (AAA)
.
Dorin Dehelean
Italo Fernandes