Education Committee
The PGAs of Europe Education Committee, (EC) has, since the inception of the association operated with a very low profile. Even so we should not underestimate the work that this group of individuals does and some of the achievements that they have made.
Click Here to view the Education Committee and click on the member to view a short Q&A with the individual.
The EC held their first meeting in Frankfurt during October 1990 under the Chairmanship of Jean-Etienne Lafitte. The main objective of the meeting was to concentrate on establishing the principle that would enable a recognised European level of professional qualification to be accepted by all member countries. The six man committee was made up of individuals from four members, France, Sweden, GB&I and Germany. Visits to several national PGAs with well established education programmes and qualification procedures followed. Initially the research pointed to a wide diversity amongst national education programmes, with significant differences evident in content, level of achievement, duration and financial aspects. It also became clear that some national PGAs did not have any direct involvement in their trainees’ education. A draft European Minimum Standards Syllabus was produced that listed the essential requirements that should be included in an approved “Education Programme”.
In 1992 the EC presented their findings to the Member Countries in a report to the 2nd Congress of The PGAs of Europe. The meeting gave consent to refine and develop the report into a minimum standard that was acceptable to all well established countries and would ultimately be achieved by every national PGA in Europe. Since that initial report the recommendations for recognition of a PGA education programme has been consistently updated and has resulted in the present document.
At a meeting in Paris in 1993, the national PGAs running established programmes, assessed their current levels and agreed on implementation of the requirements suggested in the report, on how shortfalls in the programmes might be addressed for other associations and the manner in which The PGAs of Europe could assist.
Accordingly The PGAs of Europe committee and representatives of the PGAs, of France, Great Britain & Ireland, Italy and Sweden met in Rome during June 1994, and confirmed their agreement on behalf of their own association to the reciprocal arrangements between the four countries. Each of their professional qualifications would be mutually accepted and qualified members received into each other’s membership without recourse to further examination, other than a requirement to be competent in the language of the country of employment.
This formal document of agreement was signed by all representatives at The PGAs of Europe 5th Annual Congress at La Manga in November 1994. Over subsequent years the committee established working relationships with other countries who desired to have their qualification recognised by The PGAs of Europe and advised on their programmes in order to achieve their goal. To advance the accreditation process for the inclusion of further national education programmes to European standards, the EC formulated a structured approach towards European recognition – The Recognition Process.
The original report is held at The PGAs of Europe office and includes an analysis of subjects relevant to the development of a trainee professional as they progress into qualified PGA professionals. The ability to play the game to a high standard was considered to be important a minimum handicap for entry into a national education programme was considered along with regular monitoring procedures made throughout the programme to ensure further progress by the time of qualification.
Today the volume of work which the EC is involved in has grown tremendously, but still at the heart of our work is developing and implementing the standards that our members demand. It is only right to acknowledge the help given by all those who have made a major contribution to the continual development of the Education Standard including past Chairmen Jean-Etienne Lafitte (France), Leif Ohlsson (Sweden) and current Chairman Jonathan Mannie along with the various members of their respective committees.
