Transcript British NVQ - Leonardo da Vinci -project ModVoc FI-04-B

National Vocational Qualifications in
the United Kingdom
Author: Richard Leach
Venue: Turku, Finland
Date:
14th September 2007
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
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 ~ some complex, non routine
– Level 3: Technician, Craft employees and Team Leaders ~ mainly
complex, non routine
– Level 4: Technician Engineers, Engineers and Engineering Managers
~ complex technical and strategic tasks
– Level 5: Professional Engineers ~ professional engineering
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
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
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
...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
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
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.
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
Higher Apprenticeships
• The new Higher Apprenticeship is a programme designed
to incorporate the new Foundation Degrees into workbased 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
00 Month 2006
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
Any Questions?
Thames Valley University
00 Month 2006