PDAs Management and Leadership

SQA have a range of Professional Development Awards (PDAs) in Management and Leadership. These are short focused awards, each made up of two units. There are two suites of Management PDAs:

  • Capability suite - based on Higher National Units. These awards are designed to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the principles of management. They are relevant to employees already in management positions and to those aspiring to a managerial role.
  • Competency suite - made up of SVQ Units. These awards develop knowledge and understanding and allow candidates to demonstrate occupational competence in a range of management activities through proof of actual performance in the workplace.

Candidates may attempt a PDA as an end in itself to meet a specific management development need; undertake more than one PDA as part of a programme of management development; or use one or more PDA as a stepping stone to further awards, eg HNC/Diploma in Management and Leadership or SVQs Management. These PDAs range from SCQF level 6 (Higher) to SCQF level 11(Masters) and are jointly certificated with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Candidates can take advantage of 12 months free studying membership from CMI.

Flexible PDAs

Our flexible Professional Development Awards in Leadership and Management (278 KB) 

Competency suite

Capability suite

Centres with devolved authority are eligible to seek approval through their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact the Business Development Team for guidance in completing the combined CA1/SA1 form.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements as outlined in the guide to approval.

SQA has produced a range of support materials for its Management qualifications, including the PDAs in Management. Your centre's SQA Contact will have access to these support materials on SQA's secure website. Please approach them for access. The attached document shows support materials currently available for all SQA's Management Awards (40 KB).