Launch of Prototype Qualifications
It’s an exciting time for our Next Generation Higher National (NextGen: HN) project as we enter the 2022 – 23 academic session.
NextGen: HN qualifications are initially developed as a prototype and then piloted and evaluated. Our Qualification Design Teams (QDT) have been working to develop our NextGen: HN prototype qualifications which are beginning their pilot phase. QDTs are led by Qualification Managers and supported by Qualification Officers, Subject Implementation Managers and New Product Develop Managers. QDT also encompassed pilot centres, learners, further education, industry, employer/training providers, higher education, professional associations, regulatory bodies, appointees and other stakeholders as appropriate.
The qualifications being piloted in academic session 2022-2023 are as follows:
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HNC Accounting
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HNC Agricultural Technology
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HNC Agriculture
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HNC Childhood Practise
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HNC Computing
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HNC Engineering
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HNC Horticulture
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HNC Physical Activity and Health
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HNC Social Sciences
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HNC Social Services
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HND Radio
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HND Television
We have 13 pilot centres piloting our prototype NextGen: HN qualifications. We will ensure they are supported throughout delivery by offering various activities delivered by Qualification Managers, Qualification Officers, Subject Implementation Managers and New Product Development Managers. We carried out the first of our evaluation activities prior to pilot delivery, offering pre-launch evaluation workshops.
The workshops provided an opportunity for QDT, pilot centres and additional representatives who weren’t previously involved in the qualification development to come together and discuss new products. Discussion was rich and identified the new larger units and reduction in assessment as a benefit to learners and practitioners. In addition, challenges were identified which will allow us to work closely with pilot centres and monitor these challenges in future evaluation activity. The pre-launch evaluation workshops give us a baseline for future stages of the evaluation process, which includes focus groups with delivering pilot centres throughout the pilot year.
Further information regarding the prototype qualifications being piloted this session can be found in our Qualification Information Documents. The documents draw on the course aims, the knowledge and skills from the units, approaches to meta-skills and approaches to whole qualification grading.
You can continue to keep up to date with NextGen: HN on our website.