Accreditation News

Core Skills Signposting Guidance

SQA Accreditation has produced a guidance document for Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), other Standards setting organisations and Awarding Bodies. 

SVQ Titling and the SCQF

You will recall that I wrote you to some time ago regarding the Accreditation Committee's decision with regards to the titling of those SVQs which have been SCQF credit rated. Since then a number of Awarding Bodies have been in contact to indicate that this would have implications for databases, in particular, having to hold two different titles and has a consequence in that it is not possible to produce two different SVQ certificates.  I therefore wish to advise you of a change to the original request.

Complaints and Appeals (June 2010)

Complaints and Appeals (June 2010)

On reviewing the trend of non-compliances over the last two quarters, it has been noted that there is a significant increase in the number of Awarding Bodies that have a non-compliance against the following criterion (SQA Accreditation's Awarding Body Crieria (2007)):

• 9.1.4 The circumstances under which a centre or candidate is entitled to make an appeal or complaint to SQA Accrediting Body.
   

Stakeholder Survey

SQA Accreditation's Stakeholder Survey is now live!

Employer Direct Model Reminder

As a reminder of our previous Accreditation News article on the Employer Direct Model, Awarding Bodies and SSCs are reminded that for SVQs - where assessment strategies stipulate that employer/alternative training can be used as an in place of Assessors and Verifiers achievement of the A and V Units.

Employer Direct Model

As an alternative to A & V Units, some SSC/Bs have elected to use an employer direct model as an alternative to assessors and verifiers achieving the A and V Units within SVQ assessment strategies.
 

Titling of qualifications

As we can now accredit any qualifications other than degrees, our Accreditation Co-ordination Group (ACG) has noted an increase in the number of submissions for qualifications entitled Award, Certificate and Diploma.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy (2007) challenges Awarding Bodies to work towards placing their qualifications in the SCQF and making links with other qualifications to open up opportunities for individuals. There are no specific design requirements for qualifications placed on the SCQF, nor is there any requirement that qualifications on the SCQF must be based on NOS.
 

The Role of SSCs/SSBs and Awarding Bodies in Scottish Qualification Development

Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy (2007) requires that employers have a say in the design of all qualifications and this has been embraced through the VQ Reform Programme with SQA ensuring that:

• SSCs/SSBs and employers are involved in the design of the qualifications which are awarded
• SSCs/SSBs and employers are involved in the design of the qualifications which are accredited by SQA Accreditation.
   

SVQs and the SCQF

Following discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the use of the SCQF level in SVQ titles, we set up a small group of SSCs and Awarding Bodies in early summer to identify any issues which would potentially arise from using the SCQF level in the title of SVQs.

SVQ Update

The latest edition of SVQ Update, the regular bulletin listing all accredited SVQs, is now available.

SVQ Assessment Strategies

All SVQ structures must have either:

•  a corresponding SVQ assessment strategy or
• an overarching assessment strategy which covers a range of SVQs within a particular sector area.

SQA Accreditation Qualification Products Approval Process

From 1 April 2009 a new process was introduced to approve qualification products from Scotland.

SQA Accreditation Approval of Qualification Products

Since 1 April 2009, SQA Accreditation has had the remit to approve SVQ Structures, SVQ Assessment Strategies, Core Skills Signposting and SCQF Credit Rating of SVQs.  This remit now includes the approval of Scottish Qualification Products which have been funded through the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).
 

SCQF Credit Rating Approval Process for SVQs

From 1 April 2009, SQA Accreditation introduced a new process for approving the SCQF credit rating of SVQs and SVQ Units.

SCQF Credit and Levelling of SVQs and Other Competence Based Qualifications

Explains the requirements for SCQF credit and levelling of SVQs and other Competence Based Qualifications (not SVQs).

Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks (MA Frameworks)

Provides information on Scottish Government policy on SVQs and the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Group's (MAG) policy for Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks, including:

• Scottish Government Policy on SVQs
• Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Group's Definition of a Competence Based Qualification within a Modern Apprenticeship Framework
• SVQs and Core Skills within a Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Framework
• SQA Accreditation of the Mandatory Components of a Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Framework
• SCQF Credit and Levelling of Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks

Find out more

Run out period for level 3 Scottish Vocational Qualifications

You may be aware of some research undertaken during 2009 which examined the impact of the lapsing/ run-out period for SVQs within Modern Apprenticeships. 

Review of approval process for qualifications products

As you will be aware, from 1 April 2009, SVQ structures, Assessment Strategies, Core Skills Signposting and SCQF Credit and Levelling of SVQs have been approved by SQA Accreditation.  The opportunity to work closer with SSCs/B and awarding bodies in the development and approval of qualification outputs was welcomed by SQA Accreditation. 
 

Latest News on Emergency First Aid at Work Qualification - October 2009

The unit Emergency First Aid Skills which forms the Emergency First Aid at Work qualification (and meets the Health and Safety First Aid Regulations 1981 in respect of Emergency First Aid at Work) has been credit rated and levelled for the SCQF.

Knowledge Units within SVQ Structure

As National Occupational Standards are required to demonstrate full occupational competence, the UK NOS Panel (UKNP) is unable to approve Knowledge Only Units as NOS. 
 

Guidance for Sector Skills Councils, Standard Setting Bodies and Awarding Bodies

A new guidance document has been produced to aid SSC/SSBs and Awarding Bodies in the development of SVQs.

Delegated Credit Rating

Delegated Credit Rating (DCR) has been developed in line with the Scottish Government's Skills Strategy. It aims to ensure that individuals receive appropriate credit for the learning they have received, and to provide routes into other learning opportunities. 

SQA Accreditation has developed a non-bureaucratic, no-cost process for credit rating which allows you to demonstrate your commitment to the Skills Strategy.
 

Core Skills Signposting

SQA Accreditation has contracted 3D Consultancy to undertake a review of the document, 'Developing National Occupational Standards: Signposting Key and Core Skills '(NOS 2000), to produce an updated publication, 'Guidance on Core Skills Signposting'

Consultation on Common Regulations

The Accreditation Unit has been considering new ways of simplifying their activities and have been working with the qualifications regulators from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to draft common regulations as a set of high level principles.

The Accreditation Unit is proposing to use these Common Regulations as the principle means by which they will regulate qualifications and awarding bodies. In so doing, the intentions are to reduce the burden on awarding bodies and permit more innovative and flexible ways of delivering qualifications, yet at the same time maintaining quality and rigour.

We are running a 13 week consultation programme on the Common Regulations.   

Awarding Body Approval and Accreditation

SQA Accreditation Approved Awarding bodies (ABs) are asked to note the following: