NextGen: HN Pilot Centre Update

The NextGen: HN project has adopted a culture of service design, engaging in a series of iterative prototyping throughout the development and pilot delivery phases. As a result of this approach, we know that the pilot phase provides a rich source of feedback and suggestions for potential unit and Group Award framework changes. There is a change request process in place which will facilitate any changes required and capture these in one central location i.e., the NextGen: HN qualification change log. The first year of pilot activity is the main opportunity to discern requests for change. This change request process therefore applies to the first year of the Pilot Phase only. 

Submitting a change request during the Pilot Phase (Year 1) 

If you wish to propose any changes to a NextGen Group Award or Unit, please complete the NextGen: HN Change Request Form. Prior to submitting the form, please ensure that the feedback you are providing has been signed off by your SQA coordinator. You and your SQA coordinator will be kept informed of the progress of your change request. 

The NextGen: HN Change Request Form is available on the NextGen: HN website.  

All change requests will be reviewed by the SQA subject teams and NextGen: HN team on a case-by-case basis. The nature and significance of the change request will inform next steps. Any subsequent actions will fall into one of the 3 categories below:  

1. Immediate action once identified (e.g., updated legislative requirements or technical error)  

2. In-year action at an agreed key point (e.g., addition/removal of optional unit(s) to the framework; changes to the guidance section of a unit)  

3. End-of-year action (e.g. changes to Outcomes, Knowledge/Skills or Evidence Requirements; addition/removal of unit(s) to the framework; changes to unit/GA title or unit SCQF level/SQA credit value)  

The resulting decision or agreed action will be recorded along with the timescale for implementation, if required.

Please note the following:  

• In-year unit updates will be limited and only actioned where necessary to minimise disruption to delivering centres.  

• No units will be re-coded during the pilot phase to maintain confidence in either the framework or unit descriptors and manage any risk of error. 

• The SQA Editorial team will maintain version control and manage the history of change table associated with each unit, where appropriate.

Submitting a change request after the first year of the pilot phase/prior to validation

If you wish to propose any changes to a NextGen: HN Group Award or Unit, after the first year of the pilot phase, you should speak to your new product development manager in the first instance.  At this stage in the pilot delivery process, changes will be considered by exception. Please note: no changes can be made to qualifications 2 months prior to validation. The change request process outlined above will not apply to any post validated qualifications. 

If you have any queries, please get in touch with the new product development manager for your subject.   

For any other general queries, please contact the NextGen: HN team at nextgen@sqa.org.uk