The ACRP Badge and Medallion Award Program (Badge Program) would provide a means to encourage meaningful study of ACRP applied research material. The achievement of a certain measurable level of competency and mastery is rewarding through a series of awards. Badges are awarded for demonstrating mastery in specific topical subjects. For example, a participant who successfully completes an assessment of their basic understanding of safety management systems for airports after reviewing ACRP Report No. 1 Safety Management Systems for Airports (Volumes 1 & 2) would receive a Level 1 SMS Badge. Subsequent reviews of other SMS-related material would result in additional topical badges.
The requirements for a Badge award could consist of:
1. Review of the ACRP Report
2. Review of the ACRP webcast (if available)
3. Successful completion of an objective test of the topic material
4. Submission of a memorandum (minimum 500 words) discussing the practical application of the subject matter (case study). The memo would be graded by a volunteer subject matter expert against an established rubric.
Medallions are awarded for the achievement of a minimum number of badges in relevant subject matter. For example, an Airport Safety Medallion would be awarded to an individual who has achieved five (5) badges from safety-oriented ACRP materials such as:
- Airport Safety Risk Management Panel Activities and Outcomes
- Lessons Learned from Airport Safety Management Systems Pilot Studies
- A Guidebook for Safety Risk Management for Airports
- Safety Management Systems for Airports, Volume 1: Overview
- Safety Management Systems for Airports, Volume 2: Guidebook
- Airport Risk Identification and Prioritization Practices
- Airport Self-Inspection Practices
- Legal Issues Related to Implementation and Operation of SMS for Airports
- Research Roadmap on Safety Issues
- Collecting and Sharing of Operations and Safety Data
An expansion of the concept could the awarding of a Certificate based on the participant's contribution to a structured critique of ACRP material and detailed recommendations for the revision, expansion, update, etc. of the various documents. The achievement of badges, medallions, certificates, etc., are logged into the participant's portfolio for retrieval as a transcript certified by ACRP (or perhaps an academic partner).
Benefits of an ACRP Badge and Medallion program include:
• Greatly enhanced visibility and outreach to practitioners including entry level and emerging airport professionals, students, and other interested individuals
• Development of organizational SMEs on specific topics. For example, airport management could encourage their staff to participate in the program and develop a master matrix of SMEs with the goal of establishing competencies in most all airport activities and functions (including some that could be considered esoteric).
• Evidence of continuing education activities by participants for promotion and career development opportunities (i.e., enhanced resumes). Some may be able to use the program for career path transitions.
• Foster stronger relationships with practitioners by developing a more formal relationship with participants
• Enhanced resource material and curricula for aviation academic programs
• Develop a formal feedback mechanism for maintaining the currency and relevancy of the ACRP research