HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

Jane Baker

Higher Nationals Unit Director

“Changes and Innovation within the Higher Nationals”

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

Background:

The Higher Nationals Unit (HNU) is part of the Higher Education Awards – Pearson Education Limited.

HNU has been newly established to lead the development of the Higher Nationals.

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

Higher Nationals:

• Over 100,000 student registrations – about 50% International

• Largest Sectors – Business and Engineering

Consultation 2014 Key Findings:

1. Importance of degree progression

2. Importance of being work related

3. Resilience of HNs and their reputation

4. Small cohort size

5. Maintaining HNs with up to date content

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

New Higher Nationals:

First subjects to be developed:

• Business – target date for pilot September 2015

• Engineering – target date for pilot January 2016

All new HNs to be completed by 2017/18

Some Key Features of New HNs

• Mapped to professional accreditation wherever possible

• Mandatory work related learning

• Some external assessment

• English language requirement

• HNC at level 4

• HND at level 5

• Meet QAA requirements

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

New Higher Nationals – Commissioned Model:

Ability for a centre/s / employers to commission an HN to meet a niche demand

Pilot - from January 2015

• Paramedic Higher National

• Possible plan 2015 – Automotive

It is possible some current HNs with very low demand will become Commissioned HNs.

HN Global

• Launch of an online learning community for HN students and colleagues

• Access to extensive library resources

• Will become a forum for sharing resources / best practice / sample assignments and assessments

• January 2015 – pilot in a small number of UK centres

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

New Higher Nationals – Quality Assurance :

APMR

• Introduction of an Annual Programme Monitoring Report (APMR)

• Designed to meet the needs of centres / QAA / HER

• Allows Pearson to triangulate quality information regarding programme performance

Progress:

• Draft completed and consultation undertaken with some UK FE centres

• Planned introduction – Autumn 2015 for 14/15 programmes

RAV

• Review and Approval Visit (RAV)

Progress:

Draft completed and consultation undertaken with some UK FE centres

Planned introduction - 2015

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

Other Actions To Date:

English Language

English Language ‘expectation’ set at IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for non native English language UK students for all HNs from January 2015.

As above for International during 2015 (likely to be from March 2015)

HIGHER NATIONALS UNIT

Communication and Next Steps

Consultation page set up under HNs Pearson Qualifications – December 2014

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-higher-nationals/consultation.html#tab-UK

Letters sent to all UK Centres and Pearson Departments outlining the Consultation Findings, Development Plans and how to become involved – December 2014

Employer and Stakeholder Advisory Groups (ESAGs) and Subject Development Groups being established for Business and Engineering – January/February 2015

We are keen for all our stakeholders to be involved in these developments – they can contact us at:

highernationals@pearson.com