Qualifications highlight: the Sciences and Engineering

Background

• We needed to respond to the Government’s Science Strategy for Scotland.
• We had identified a need to raise awareness of our existing range of qualifications for Science.
• Our initial work in this area focused on Science, but it has now been expanded to include Engineering.

What we did in 2007–08

Reviewed current qualifications in Science and Engineering. We investigated stakeholders’ needs and plans, including sector skills councils, employers, and education and training providers.

Prepared a draft report recommending future qualifications developments. We continued to inform policy and raise awareness of existing provision through participation in Scottish Chemical Industry Strategy Group, Scottish Engineering Network, Scottish Association of Further Education Engineering Colleges, and the Engineering for the Future Steering Group.

Mapped current qualifications in the Sciences to the new curricular outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.