Diploma Aggregation Service

Becta: 14-19 Diplomas: Learning the lessons of the new operating model

24 November 2008

Richard FitzpatrickMinerva Project Manager

Content

• Context• Role of the aggregation service• Learner Accounts• High level process• What it looks like• The bigger picture (service structure and interfaces)• Security• Access and training• DAS and the MIAP LRS• Service support• Current state• Next steps• Questions

3

Minerva project background

• Feb 2005 Government published 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper.

• Introduced concept of the Diploma (component based, designed to develop an individual’s skills through a mix of theoretical and practical learning)

• QCA given responsibility for ensuring that “the systems to deliver Diplomas are effective and efficient”

• Jan 2007 Minerva project remit amended to focus exclusively on delivery of the IT to enable Diploma awarding

• Sept 2007 Steria engaged as IT Supplier to deliver the Diploma Aggregation Service

The Diploma Challenge

Learner

Learner

Learner

Learner

Centre

Centre

Centre

Consortia of schools, colleges and work based learning providers

AB

AB

AB

ABAB

AB

Multiple Component Awarding Bodies

(CAB)

Diploma Awarding Body

(DAB)

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Role of the Diploma aggregation service

The purpose of the service is to support the awarding of Diplomas through data sharing and aggregation.

• It records Diploma constituent qualification results against each

learner.

• It aggregates a learner’s results and applies ‘rules of combination’ to

determine if sufficient results have been achieved for a Diploma to be

claimed.

• If sufficient results are achieved, the system calculates a trial grade

so the Diploma can be claimed and awarded by a Diploma awarding

body.

6

Learner Accounts

Every Diploma learner will need a Diploma learner account

• Used to post and collate results of Diploma constituent qualifications within the Diploma aggregation service.

• Administered on behalf of a learner by the Learner administrator (the person, usually an Exams officer, who is responsible for creating and maintaining learner accounts on the aggregation service for their centre).

• Opened for each Diploma learner by the Home Centre Learner administrator using the learner’s Unique Learner Number (ULN).

• Requires basic personal details, for example, ULN, family name, given name, DOB and gender.

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How it works - high level process

CollateDiploma

result

Notify centre of completed

Diploma andissue trial grade

KeyAwarding Body activities

Learner activities

Diploma aggregation service activities

Centre activities

EO updateLearnerAccount

with PLTSand WE

CAB updatelearneraccount

with results

Yes Enterlearner with

CAB

OpenLearnerAccount

Completelearning

Obtain ULN

No

ULN?Diploma learner

DAB issuesDiploma

ClaimDiploma

Decide to claimDiploma

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The bigger picture

Centres

Diploma Aggregation Service

QCA Organisational Boundary

Diploma AggregationService Data Store

LearnerCentre User CAB User DAB User

Learner Accounts

Record ResultsAggregate and

GradeClaim Diploma

Supporting Processes

Diploma InformationManagement Services

Diploma Aggregation and Grading Services

CentreData Store

DCSF Organisational Boundary

DfES Gateway

MIAP Organisational Boundary

Learner Registration Service

UK Register of Learning Providers QCA Reference

Data Stores - RoC(WBA -> QMIS)

ULN Directory

UKRLP Directory

Component Awarding Bodies

CAB Data Store

Diploma Awarding Bodies

DAB Data Store

QCA User

DCSF User

Schools Directory

Key Diploma Business Processes

Aggregation & Grading Services

Information Management Services

Diploma Aggregation Service

Data

Direct Relationship (critical data feed)

Indirect Relationship (non-critical data feed)

Business ProcessesKey:

NAA CRMCentre Data

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Diploma aggregation service web browser

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Protecting all our interests

• A secure service governed by strict terms and conditions…– Access restricted to authorised users (learners have no direct access)– Commercial agreements in place between QCA and DAS users– Online T’s & C’s

• Access to information limited by user profile…– Role based (e.g. Learner Administrator, Learner Data Viewer, TPLA)– Controlled at two levels (System Administrator; Local Administrator)

• Industry standards applied…– ISO/IEC 17799:2005– ISO27001

• e-Government Framework compliant (and W3C, WAI, WCAG)

• DPA compliant

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Access and Training

Timings– Early adopters opened learner accounts in July– The full service for recording learner achievements and

triggering a Diploma went live 1 September 2008

Training– ‘Train the trainer’ – Classroom based with supporting CBT– Role based– Rollout June - October

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DAS and the MIAP LRS

• Memorandum of Understanding– Scope of services necessary for the operation of the DAS– Service Levels– Issue Escalation and Dispute Resolution Process

• DAS Management Board– MIAP are represented

• DAS Operations Group– Consultative group for ABs; includes MIAP

Also:• DAS Advisory Group

– Consultative group for key stakeholders; AoC, EOA.

13

Service support

Diploma aggregation service Help Desk

Diploma aggregation service

Diploma aggregation serviceTechnical Support

MIS1 MIS2 MIS3

MIS Providers

DAB

Awarding Bodies

CAB

MIAP

C1

Learner

Centres’ 1st Line calls

QCA Systems

Government

Centres

C2 C3

Centres’ 1st Line Support

Centres’ 2nd Line Support

Boundary of environment

Centres’1st Line calls

2/nd/3nd Line calls

Other 1st Line calls

Other potential routes

Frequently asked QuestionsFAQ

Diploma aggregation service Help Desk

Diploma aggregation service

Diploma aggregation serviceTechnical Support

MIS1 MIS2 MIS3

MIS Providers

DAB

Awarding Bodies

CAB

MIAP

C1

Learner

Centres’ 1st Line calls

QCA Systems

Government

Centres

C2 C3

Centres’ 1st Line Support

Centres’ 2nd Line Support

Boundary of environment

Centres’1st Line calls

2/nd/3nd Line calls

Other 1st Line calls

Other potential routes

Frequently asked Questions

Boundary of environment

Centres’1st Line calls

2/nd/3nd Line calls

Other 1st Line calls

Other potential routes

Frequently asked QuestionsFAQ

Service management helpdesk environment

Full Service Operational since 1st September• 11 Release1 early adopter Centres• 870 centres now online• Over 5000 Learner accounts opened to 20th November• All Help Desks and data feeds active• Key service levels in operation with monthly reviews with all suppliers• Daily, weekly and monthly service reports

Key Risks:• High volume of Wave 2/3 centres need to be managed• The service could be destabilised by high volume of change requests

Management Summary of service operations

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Next steps

• DAS ‘on-boarding’ activity for Phase 2 CABs/DABs began this month• MIS Technical Workshop 20th October – some take-up to on-board• Release 3 in early March, then project closure• For further information on the Diploma aggregation service, visit our

project website; www.diploma-aggregation-service.co.uk

Any Questions?