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National Vocational Qualifications in the United Kingdom

National Vocational Qualifications in the United Kingdom. Author: Richard Leach Venue: Turku, Finland Date: 14 th September 2007. What is an NVQ?. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work related, competence based qualifications.

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National Vocational Qualifications in the United Kingdom

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  1. National Vocational Qualifications in the United Kingdom Author: Richard Leach Venue: Turku, Finland Date: 14th September 2007

  2. What is an NVQ? • National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work related, competence based qualifications. • NVQs reflect ‘best practice’ and are based on National Occupational Standards written by the particular employment-led Sector Skills council • NVQ Units are achieved by demonstrating competence at work

  3. NVQ Levels • NVQ’s are available in 5 levels, for Engineering these roughly correspond to: • Level 1: Operators ~ routine and predictable • Level 2: Operators with Higher Skills ~ somecomplex, non routine • Level 3: Technician, Craft employees and Team Leaders ~ mainlycomplex, non routine • Level 4: Technician Engineers, Engineers and Engineering Managers ~ complex technical and strategic tasks • Level 5: Professional Engineers ~ professional engineering

  4. How are NVQs Implemented? • The whole system is administered by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) who approve and monitor awarding bodies • Sector Skills Councils (SSC) work with industry to develop occupational standards that are used to define the NVQs • Awarding Bodies approve centres to deliver NVQs. They will be approved by QCA and oversee quality

  5. Qualification Structure • NVQ structure includes: • Qualification title • Skill area • Unit titles • General breakdown of activities • Units Are Written to include • Evidence routes • Elements • Performance criteria • Range • Knowledge Skills

  6. Evidence • An NVQ is achieved by proving workplace competence • The specified standards for NVQs have been developed by people analysing the functions and key activities carried out in the workplace • To achieve an NVQ a candidate must demonstrate that they meet all criteria by collecting and presenting evidence, usually in the form of a portfolio

  7. ...In general there are two types of evidence: • Performance Evidence, i.e evidence of actually doing the job • Direct observation • Finished article • Production records • Witness statements • Knowledge Evidence i.e evidence that indicates the candidates knowledge of the job – achieved through questioning

  8. The Process • Employee/Trainee is registered for appropriate NVQ • Candidate undergoes training in accordance with an agreed assessment plan • Evidence is gathered and recorded in portfolio • Candidate undergoes regular visits in the workplace by a qualified assessor • The assessor will assist the candidate through the assessment process by ensuring there are appropriate training opportunities and also make assessment decisions and provide feedback

  9. The Process cont... • Assessment decisions made by the assessor will be sampled by an Internal Verifier to assure quality • The Internal verifier will also advise and support assessors and candidates as and when required and ensure standardisation of assessment within the organisation • The Internal Verifier will in turn be monitored by an External Verifier employed by the awarding body to ensure that their requirements are met.

  10. Apprenticeships • The UK Apprenticeship frameworks are defined by the Sector Skills Councils • Essentially two types • Apprenticeship – consists of appropriate NVQ2, Technical Certificate , and Key Skills at level 1/2 • Advanced Apprenticeship - consists of appropriate NVQ3, Technical Certificate , and Key Skills at level 2 • Technical Certificates provide the underpinning knowledge for the NVQ • Funding is only available for 16 – 24yr learners

  11. Higher Apprenticeships • The new Higher Apprenticeship is a programme designed to incorporate the new Foundation Degrees into work-based learning • On a Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering, a young person would achieve: • 1 x NVQ level 4 or 2 x NVQ level 3 plus NVQ level 4 units • Foundation Degree in Engineering • Basic Skills, PEO or PMO • 5 x Key Skills at level 3 • Professional Institution Standards – UK Spec Thames Valley University

  12. Useful Links • http://www.cityandguilds.com - City & Guilds • http://www.eal.org.uk - EMTA Awards Limited • http://www.edexcel.org.uk - Edexcel (BTEC) • http://www.semta.org.uk - SEMTA (Engineering Sector Skill Council) • http://www.qca.org.uk - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority • http://www.ssda.org.uk - Sector Skills Development Agency • http://providers.lsc.gov.uk/LAD/aims/searchcriteria.asp - LSC learning aims database

  13. Any Questions? Thames Valley University

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