Stirling Stirling WoodWood

Programme Leader (Networks), QCAProgramme Leader (Networks), QCA

Level ofLevel ofqualificationqualification

GeneralGeneralqualificationqualification

VocationalVocationalqualificationqualification

OccupationalOccupationalqualificationqualification

Higher levelHigher levelqualificationsqualifications

A LevelA Level

GCSEGCSEgrades A*-Cgrades A*-C

GCSEGCSEgrades D-Ggrades D-G

Advanced GNVQ;Advanced GNVQ;AVCEAVCE

Intermediate GNVQ;Intermediate GNVQ;Vocational GCSEVocational GCSE

grades A*- C grades A*- C

Foundation GNVQ;Foundation GNVQ;Vocational GCSEVocational GCSE

grades D-Ggrades D-G

Entry level qualificationsEntry level qualifications

55

44

33

22

11Entry Entry

LevelLevel

5 5

44

33

22

11

NVQNVQ

National Qualifications National Qualifications Framework (NQF)Framework (NQF)

National Qualifications National Qualifications Framework (NQF)Framework (NQF)

Vocational IT Vocational IT QualificationsQualifications

• Vocationally-related qualifications Vocationally-related qualifications (VRQs)(VRQs)

• NVQsNVQs

• GNVQs ?GNVQs ?

• Applied GCSEs ?Applied GCSEs ?

• AVCEs ?AVCEs ?

IT VRQs (1)IT VRQs (1)

• IT UsersIT Users

– the vast majority of us who use IT on a the vast majority of us who use IT on a day-to-day basis;day-to-day basis;

• IT PractitionersIT Practitioners

– people who work in the IT industries;people who work in the IT industries;

– people who have an IT role in a non-IT people who have an IT role in a non-IT company;company;

– people wishing to progress to this people wishing to progress to this work.work.

Level Level 33

Level Level 22

Level Level 11

Level Level 44

IT UserIT User IT PractitionerIT PractitionerSoftwareSoftware

DevelopmentDevelopmentICT SystemsICT Systems

SupportSupportGeneralGeneral

IT VRQs (2)IT VRQs (2)

managing ICT managing ICT systems systems

development, development, software software

specifications and specifications and supporting ICT supporting ICT

acquisitionacquisitionadvanced skills advanced skills

such as such as investigating investigating requirements, requirements,

creating designs creating designs for software and for software and creating softwarecreating softwareintroduction to introduction to skills such as skills such as

creating software creating software and testing and testing

software systemssoftware systems

developing developing methodologies for methodologies for

operating ICT operating ICT systems, systems,

managing ICT managing ICT systems systems

installationinstallationadvanced skills advanced skills such as service such as service

delivery, delivery, hardware systems hardware systems

installation and installation and customer supportcustomer support

introduction to introduction to skills such as skills such as maintaining maintaining

equipment and equipment and customer supportcustomer support

management of management of non-specialist IT non-specialist IT Practitioner skills Practitioner skills

and processesand processes

advanced non-advanced non-specialist IT specialist IT

Practitioner skillsPractitioner skills

introduction to introduction to non-specialist IT non-specialist IT Practitioner skillsPractitioner skills

advanced advanced application of IT application of IT user techniquesuser techniques

working across IT working across IT user applicationsuser applications

introduction to introduction to basic IT user skillsbasic IT user skills

IT User VRQsIT User VRQs

Level 3Level 3

Level 2Level 2

Level 1Level 1

TechniquesTechniques

Application Application of of techniques techniques

Greater degree of multi-application skills and application Greater degree of multi-application skills and application of those skills.of those skills.

• NQF Levels 2-4;NQF Levels 2-4;

• 3 strands3 strands

– General;General;

– ICT Systems Support;ICT Systems Support;

– Software Development;Software Development;

• Each strand at each level has stated content derived Each strand at each level has stated content derived from National Occupational Standards/SFIA;from National Occupational Standards/SFIA;

• Mandatory component parts in ICT Systems Support and Mandatory component parts in ICT Systems Support and Software Development;Software Development;

• Other content left to the awarding bodies’ discretion;Other content left to the awarding bodies’ discretion;

• 8 soft skills identified to be included at each level.8 soft skills identified to be included at each level.

IT Practitioner VRQsIT Practitioner VRQs

• Working with vendorsWorking with vendors Working with awarding Working with awarding bodiesbodies

– CiscoCisco OCROCR

– Microsoft Microsoft City & GuildsCity & Guilds

– OracleOracle EdexcelEdexcel

– CompTIACompTIA

– CertiportCertiport

– MacromediaMacromedia

IT VRQs & Vendor AwardsIT VRQs & Vendor Awards

Where we are now? Where we are now? • Currently there areCurrently there are

– 15 IT User qualifications at Levels 1-3;15 IT User qualifications at Levels 1-3;

– 20 IT Practitioner qualifications at Levels 20 IT Practitioner qualifications at Levels 2&3;2&3;

• 5 IT User qualifications aligned with vendor 5 IT User qualifications aligned with vendor awards;awards;

• 2 IT Practitioner qualifications aligned with 2 IT Practitioner qualifications aligned with vendor qualifications, but more to come…vendor qualifications, but more to come…

IT NVQs (1)IT NVQs (1)• Occupational qualifications that attest to an Occupational qualifications that attest to an

individuals competence in a specific occupation or individuals competence in a specific occupation or job role;job role;

• Work-based as opposed to centre-based;Work-based as opposed to centre-based;

• Rooted in National Occupational Standards (NOS);Rooted in National Occupational Standards (NOS);

• Contract with the SSC for the sector - e-Skills UKContract with the SSC for the sector - e-Skills UK

• Underway - ‘creative and innovative’;Underway - ‘creative and innovative’;

• Supported this approach;Supported this approach;

• Approval of NOS will pave the way for awarding Approval of NOS will pave the way for awarding bodies to deliver a new type of NVQ;bodies to deliver a new type of NVQ;

IT NVQs (2)IT NVQs (2)• More flexible;More flexible;

• ‘‘Invisible’ assessment process;Invisible’ assessment process;

• e-Portfoliose-Portfolios

• Easier accreditation of prior Easier accreditation of prior achievement;achievement;

• Drive up demand;Drive up demand;

• New way of working for all.New way of working for all.

e-Assessment / e-Tools e-Assessment / e-Tools (1)(1)

• Currently most IT awarding bodies use a form Currently most IT awarding bodies use a form of e-assessment in IT VRQs;of e-assessment in IT VRQs;

• Types of e-assessment in useTypes of e-assessment in use

– Objective testing (adaptive and linear);Objective testing (adaptive and linear);

– Task-based testing;Task-based testing;

– Diagnostic and self-assessment tools;Diagnostic and self-assessment tools;

• e-Portfolios.e-Portfolios.

e-Assessment / e-Tools e-Assessment / e-Tools (2)(2)

• For the future we’re actively looking atFor the future we’re actively looking at

– e-Portfolios;e-Portfolios;

– Scenario based e-assessment;Scenario based e-assessment;

– E-diagnostic/self assessment tools;E-diagnostic/self assessment tools;

– Working with vendors and e-assessment Working with vendors and e-assessment providers to drive the process of change providers to drive the process of change for workforce development.for workforce development.

The Future (1)…The Future (1)…• Monitor the effectiveness of all IT Monitor the effectiveness of all IT

qualifications;qualifications;

• Continue to work withContinue to work with

– awarding bodies;awarding bodies;

– employers;employers;

– SSCsSSCs

– Providers (both FE and schools);Providers (both FE and schools);

– e-Assessment/e-Portfolio providers;e-Assessment/e-Portfolio providers;

– Vendors.Vendors.

The Future (2)…The Future (2)…• Continue to bridge the academic/vocational Continue to bridge the academic/vocational

divide bydivide by

– Providing a clear roadmap for qualifications;Providing a clear roadmap for qualifications;

– Develop a set of unified standards for Develop a set of unified standards for National Curriculum and vocational National Curriculum and vocational qualifications that enable users to map qualifications that enable users to map acrossacross

The Future (3)…The Future (3)…