Engineering Skills (Int. 2)

 

Skills for Work Course — Engineering Skills (Intermediate 2)

Contact the Qualifications Manager for this subject area 
Pat Robb  GRAPHIC: email icon.

Structure of the Course

This Course is at Intermediate 2 level and consists of four mandatory Units of 40 hours each.

The mandatory Units are:

Engineering Skills: Mechanical and Fabrication

1 Unit credit

Engineering Skills: Electrical and Electronic

1 Unit credit

Engineering Skills: Maintenance

1 Unit credit

Engineering Skills: Design and Manufacture

1 Unit credit

Summary of Course content

The Intermediate 2 Engineering Skills Course has been designed to provide a basis for progression into further education or for moving directly into training or employment within an engineering sector. The overall purpose of the Course is to ensure that candidates start to develop the generic and practical skills, knowledge and understanding and employability skills needed within an engineering sector. This Course focuses on the broad areas of Mechanical, Fabrication, Electrical, Electronic, Maintenance and an element of Design and Manufacture. This will allow the candidates to gain basic transferable skills which can be applied to any of the above engineering areas.

The primary target group for this Course is school candidates in S3 and above. It is anticipated that, for this group of candidates, the Course will rely on and build on existing partnerships between schools and colleges and employers (or other agencies). This may be particularly pertinent in the case of the Engineering Skills course due to the specialist expertise and facilities available in, for example, further education colleges and training providers. Nevertheless, the Engineering Skills course is designed at a level and scope such that it can be delivered in schools, if the school has suitable facilities and teaching expertise. A partnership approach would still be necessary in order to provide the contact with the workplace which is an essential part of the experience for candidates. The Course is also suitable for adult candidates who are seeking to enhance their employability and develop introductory vocational skills in an engineering sector.


Summary of content of each Unit:

Engineering Skills: Mechanical and Fabrication

In this Unit candidates will learn to select and use the correct tools, equipment and materials required to manufacture an artefact. During the manufacture, candidates will read simple engineering drawings, measure and mark, select appropriate materials and work to specified tolerances. The candidate will also develop and use basic engineering skills of cutting, shaping, drilling, tapping, forming and joining. Embedded into the practical activities of this Unit are the employability skills that employers value. Although it is envisaged that all employability skills will be developed in this Unit not all will be assessed.

Engineering Skills: Electrical and Electronic

In this Unit candidates will select the correct tools and components required to construct a basic functional extra low voltage electrical circuit and an electronic circuit from a given diagram and specification. The Unit is suitable for candidates with no previous electrical, electronic or employment experience. Embedded into the practical activities of this Unit are the employability skills that employers value. Although it is envisaged that all employability skills will be developed in this Unit not all will be assessed.

Engineering Skills: Maintenance

In this Unit candidates will select the correct tools, materials and equipment required to test, disassemble, repair and assemble an engineering part. Embedded into the practical activities of this Unit are the employability skills that employers value. Although it is envisaged that all employability skills will be developed in this Unit not all will be assessed.

Engineering Skills: Design and Manufacture

In this unit candidates will develop Computer Aided Draughting (CAD) skills and select and use the correct tools and materials required to design, manufacture/construct, test, evaluate and report their findings on, the manufacture/construction of a project. This Unit is designed to be attempted only after successful completion of the other mandatory skills Units. Candidates will select and safely use the correct tools and materials to design, manufacture/construct, assemble and complete functionality tests on one project selected from the following:

  • Mechanical or Fabrication
  • Electrical/Electronic
  • Control
  • Integrated

Candidates will evaluate and report their findings on the design, manufacture/construction, assembly and functionality tests of the selected project. Embedded into the practical activities of this Unit are the employability skills that employers value. Although it is envisaged that all employability skills will be developed in this Unit not all will be assessed.


Assessment approaches

All of the Units focus on the development of specific engineering skills. Assessment follows a similar pattern involving a range of practical activities which will produce evidence for all the Outcomes. The evidence will be confirmed by the use of an assessor checklist which will cover:

  • interpretation of a drawing or specification
  • the appropriate use of tools, materials and equipment
  • successful involvement in the completion of a task, product or assembly
  • quality checking of their work by the candidate
  • attention to health and safety aspects of working in a workshop type of environment

The assessment of employability skills is integrated in all of the Units and is based on assessor checklists and the completion of a candidate review sheet on one occasion within each unit of the Course. This review allows the candidate to record development of employability skills in the context of different skill areas. In addition to the above the Design and Manufacture Unit selected will also include an introduction to design using a CAD software package.

Each Unit will be supported by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) item which will provide an assessment package and will exemplify the national standard.


Experience of the workplace

Through their experiences of the various practical skills in the Course candidates should become aware of steps to employment or further training. Candidates should also become better equipped to make valid personal choices regarding careers and further study. Due to Health & Safety issues, work placements will not be mandatory for candidates taking this course. However partnership arrangements will enable candidates to carry out the wide range of practical assignments required in the Course, in a workshop environment. This may also have the advantage of bringing candidates into contact with a range of employed students and apprentices.

It may be possible for centres to arrange visits to engineering firms as part of the candidates’ learning experience. Visiting speakers from local firms should also be encouraged in order to enhance understanding of employability skills, job roles and career paths for the candidates.

Centres are encouraged to establish links with local industry. Local engineering companies, trades associations, Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), Institutes and Chambers of Commerce may be prepared to offer support, for example, in the form of visits from representatives of their organisations. Visitors from industry will be able to give candidates a realistic view of jobs and conditions in the engineering industry.


Resource requirements

Centres will require relevant workshop facilities for the practical Units in the Course. Equipment and tool requirements are no more than would be expected for an engineering craft programme at this level. Access to a suitable CAD package will also be required in the final Unit.

Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be essential for all candidates. This may include safety footwear, overalls, gloves, masks and hard hats as required. (This list of PPE is not intended to be exhaustive and centres should carry out risk assessments for all activities as required).


Progression

This Course may provide candidates with opportunities to progress to:

  • SVQs and Modern Apprenticeships in Engineering areas
  • relevant programmes in Further Education colleges suitable training/employment


Course and Unit Specifications


Launch event

The launch event for the Engineering Skills Intermediate 2 Course will be held on 29 April 2008.


Publication of NABs

A NAB for each Course Unit will be made available during or before June 2008.


Publication of Learning and Teaching support packs

Learning and teaching support packs are being produced by the Scottish Further Education Unit to support this Course. These are planned for publication on the SFEU website by August 2008.


Arrangement documents

Subject:

Engineering Skills
Level: Intermediate 2
Code: C253 11
Edition: Version 1, April 2008
Downloads: SfW Engineering Skills Intermediate 2 Course and Unit Specifications