Mountain Leader Training UK held a quarterly business meeting in County Clare on 22nd September at the Burren Outdoor Education Centre. Twenty-four representatives were present from all four home nations, some from Mountain Leader Training, some from the Mountaineering Councils and assisted by observers from the Association of Mountaineering Instructors, Mountain Guides and the National Mountain Centres.
Several important issues were discussed and some important resolutions were passed.
The revised programme for the International Mountain Leader scheme is now being provided, and the text for the handbook has been posted on the MLTUK website (http://www.mltuk.org/docs/documents/IMLHandbookMay2007.doc) A laser printed copy is sent to registrants, and the final handbook will be published after the first winter courses have run and been reviewed.
Preparation for the launch of the new Climbing Wall Award was discussed. This is on schedule for January 2008 and MLTE have already received 40 applications for providership. Providers will need to have completed a movement skills coaching workshop and a scheme induction workshop as pre-requisites to formal approval.
The Board discussed developments within the Mountain Leader Training Association (www.mlta.co.uk) which has its second annual conference scheduled for November 17th 2007, along with a FUNdamentals climbing movement workshop which is already fully subscribed. The Board agreed to post details of a civil liability indemnity scheme designed specifically for MLTA holders on the MLTA website.
Despite many months of negotiations over the proposed quality assurance system for the Award in Basic Expedition Leadership the operating authority (SLUK) still feels that the QCA system without an additional level of moderation is suitable. MLTUK requires moderation by technically competent auditors – ML or WGL holders. All deadlines for a suitable solution have now passed and so the Board agreed to remove ABEL from its National Guidelines. We recognise that many providers produce excellent courses, but without technically competent moderators the standard of delivery cannot be universally assured. This means that awards gained under the new system of moderation will not be accepted by MLTUK as meeting the industry standard.
The Board discussed the implications of EU legislation for transferability of qualifications within the EU and agreed that the scope of the scheme should describe the “conditions encountered within the United Kingdom and Ireland” rather than using this phrase. A working party will examine this wording, and a chaired group comprising AMI, BMG and BAIML will look at the issues that need to be addressed in order to support AMI members wishing to work overseas.
The Board congratulated MLTE on obtaining QCA level 3 approval for the ML scheme, which should allow educational funding to be sourced by participants.
Steve Long 10/6/07