Monday, 5 December 2005
Issue 2
Chief Executive's welcome
Anton Colella, SQA's Chief Executive welcomes you to December's e-zine.
This month I am delighted to tell you about the results of our Annual Awards Ceremony, which celebrate the successes and commitment to qualifications of Scottish and international candidates, schools, colleges, training providers and businesses. We also celebrate the 80th anniversary of Higher National Qualifications, which continue to provide substantial benefits to the economy of Scotland and to enable people to demonstrate their potential.
I hope you are finding our e-zine informative and would welcome your comments. Please let us know what you think, using the following link.
Celebrating success at SQA's Annual Awards
We recently held our annual Awards Ceremony in Glasgow, with TV Presenter Kaye Adams as our host. The Ceremony was sponsored by Microsoft, RM, The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Learndirect Scotland, Leckie and Leckie, Scottish Enterprise, TES Scotland, and UCAS.
Yet again we had a record number of entries for our Awards and our judging panel had the difficult task of selecting three finalists in each category. The categories cover the full range of participants in Scottish education, including the Business of the Year, International Centre of the Year, the Candidate of the Year, The Scottish Enterprise Award for Vocational Training and the SQA Award for Academic Excellence.
Each finalist had an inspirational story to tell on their road to great achievement. Congratulations to them all, it was a wonderful occasion and highlighted the strength of Scottish education.
2005 SQA Fellowship Award
The highest award of the Scottish Qualifications Authority – The Fellowship – has been awarded this year to Linda McTavish CBE, Principal of Anniesland College, Glasgow.
Following a significant career in the FE sector, Linda has become one of the sector’s most prominent and effective champions, making considerable contributions to SQA’s work (and predecessor bodies) and the development of SQA’s qualifications.
Yasmeen programmed for computer success
An 18-year-old Dundee girl with a passion for software development has won the title of the UK's top female computing student.
Yasmeen Ahmad, who studied Advanced Higher Computing at Morgan Academy, qualified to represent Scotland in the UK final of the Axios 'A' Star Awards along with Rhona Lees from Larkhall Academy and Alexandra Gemmill from Glasgow Academy. The Awards are a major initiative to encourage more girls to study and take up careers in computing.
Having already won the Scottish heat of the competition, Yasmeen was presented with her UK Award by Sally Gunnell, former Olympic and World Champion athlete, at a ceremony at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in London's Piccadilly on 2 December.
E-assessments for National Qualifications
We are working with around 1,000 candidates in approximately 20 schools across Scotland who are taking e-assessments in Mathematics (Higher), Computing (Intermediate 2) or Computing Studies (Intermediate 1).
Our Computer Assisted Assessment and NQ Development Teams are now carrying out preparatory work to identify subjects and levels suitable for conversion in the future.
New courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages
We are pleased to announce that new courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages at Intermediate 2 and Higher levels will be available from August 2006, for certification in 2007.
Course and Unit specifications will be published on our website in February. Each course will be supported by a range of National Assessment Bank items and support materials. Launch events will be held in late May and early June and these will allow us to tell you all about the new courses and the resources available. We will keep you updated in future issues of the e-zine.
For more information on these qualifications, contact the Qualifications Manager, Alan Wilson on 0141 242 2242.
World's first diploma in e-assessment launched
We are delighted to announce the launch of the world's first national qualification in online assessment,the Diploma in e-assessment.
This Diploma is part of the e-learning suite of Professional Development Awards, and consists of four units at level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). It covers areas such as principles and practice, designing and implementing an online test, management and e-assessment projects.
The qualification is designed for teachers, lecturers or trainers who wish to gain specialist knowledge and skills in e-assessment.
New ICT in Library awards launched
We are pleased to announce the recent launch of two new Professional Development Awards: Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Applications of ICT in Libraries.
These new qualifications are placed at level 7 and level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). They have been developed by The Scottish Library Information Council (SLIC) and ourselves, and are valid throughout the UK. The qualifications recognise the prior learning of the Peoples Network Training.
Higher Nationals turn 80
The celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Scotland's Higher National Qualifications started in fine style with a formal event held in Edinburgh's Signet Library.
Supported by CBI Scotland and the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department of the Scottish Executive, the evening was attended by representatives from Scotland's colleges, business community, the media and SQA Fellows.
Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, and Sir Digby Jones, Director-General of CBI gave keynote addresses.
Qualifications for all: Equality of access to our qualifications
We are working hard to make sure that candidates' experience of taking our qualifications meets their aspirations and needs, and respects their rights under legislation such as the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act. Central to our work is the belief that each candidate is entitled to be treated fairly and with respect.
Our policies and practice are available:
» Qualifications for All: Equality of Access to SQA Qualifications.
» Qualifications for All: Equality and Fairness for SQA Candidates.
Assessment and accountability
The Association for Educational Assessment Europe (AEA) recently held its annual conference in Dublin on the theme of Assessment and Accountability. We were involved in a number of seminars and presentations, together with Learning Teaching Scotland and the Scottish Executive. Topics discussed included: 'Assessment is for Learning in Scotland: Becoming an 'Assessment is for Learning' School and 'International Perspectives on Vocational Assessment in Vocational Qualifications (ages 14 to 19)'.
The theme of next year's conference is 'Education and Equity' and we hope to again pick up the issue of vocational education.
» AEA is publishing the presentations and seminars on its website – click here to find out more.
New learning and teaching materials for Higher National Qualifications
We are delighted to announce, in partnership with the Colleges’ Open Learning Exchange Group (COLEG), the release of learning and teaching materials to support the delivery of a selection of new Higher National qualifications.
The materials will be available to college SQA Co-ordinators and college COLEG contacts by password access in the secure section of both our websites. The websites will list the Units in each framework as they become available. On our own website, the materials can be found in the secure section under HN subjects, student guides.
Although it is a requirement that SQA copyright be acknowledged, COLEG and SQA have agreed that the conditions for the use of these new materials be precisely the same as for other COLEG-commissioned materials.
Sharing Scottish qualifications abroad
Our External Development Team recently hosted a week-long study visit for the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Fifteen participants from different areas of vocational education and training in ten EU countries came to Scotland to learn all about our vocational education system. The week consisted of presentations from SQA, visits to James Watt College seeing vocational education in action, the Scottish Executive's Lifelong Learning Group and Glasgow Caledonian University's Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning.
» Click here for further information about the work of our External Development Team.
Quality: Setting the Scottish standard
We are currently reviewing and updating our published Quality Assurance Principles, Elements and Criteria document. Our Quality Assurance Team recently held a focus group involving college representatives, based on feedback from questionnaires sent to centres and local authorities. This provided constructive views and feedback which we are considering for incorporation to the framework, emphasising the importance of working in partnership with our centres to support programmes of quality enhancement.
The revised framework is scheduled for publication by the end of March 2006 for implementation in session 2006-2007.
New guidance on offering SQA Qualifications overseas
We are delighted to announce the publication of a new booklet, Guidance for UK-based Centres on providing SQA Qualifications overseas. This provides useful guidance and information for centres planning to work, or currently working, with candidates overseas. It gives details of our policy and procedures related to this, including the requirement for centres to inform us in April and October each year if candidates for our qualifications are being assessed overseas, and to provide details of sites and candidates.
New Professional Development Directory, Jan to June 2006
Our new corporate Professional Development Directory for January through to June 2006 is now available.The Professional Development Directory has Professional Development Workshops, Quality Networks and customer events for all our customers' needs and features many new programmes. January features our new Assessor and Verifier Workshops as well as Workshops in Quality Assurance for Schools.
To thank you for your support and to mark the introduction of the Directory, all events booked by 23 December 2005 will automatically qualify for a 10% reduction on the delegate fee. Please book early to take advantage of this offer.
» If you want to register your place, click here. Remember places are limited.
Co-ordinator's Events for Schools and Colleges
Presentations from our recent Co-ordinator Events for Schools and Colleges are now available from the website.
History of Scotland's Higher National Qualifications: The 1920s To mark the 80th anniversary of Higher National Qualifications, we start a series of historical snippets through the decades.
It was during the 1920s - a decade featuring post-war uncertainty, major Scottish discoveries of penicillin and television and the General Strike - that disquiet caused by the alarming national shortage of engineering expertise triggered the birth of Higher National qualifications.
The first awards were made by Glasgow's Royal Technical College (now the University of Strathclyde). The year was 1925 and fourteen HNCs in Mechanical Engineering, plus ten in Chemistry, were awarded, verified in the records of two organisations, The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Chemistry.
Scottish qualifications in Ghana Together with two Scottish colleges, we have won a tender for a project to develop a centre to fulfil the vocational training requirements of established and emerging industries in Ghana.
Online Forum Have you visited our Computing Online Forum, which provides members with the opportunity to discuss current issues with colleagues?
» Click here to find out more.
2006 National Qualifications Examinations Timetable The 2006 NQ Examination Timetable is now available to download.
» Download the timetable.
SFEU Learning Packs To support HN modernisation, and enabled by SFEFC funding, we recruited twenty experienced practitioners to map websites appropriate to the curriculum.
These websites, ideal for educational delivery, are available for educationalists and learners alike to access online via the Information Gateway. The Gateway is arranged by curricular area and subdivided into topics within each area.
In excess of 100 learner guides have been created and 1,500 new entries have been reviewed and submitted.
» Access this great resource.
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