National Qualification Support Teams

NQSTs comprise of Qualifications Manager(s) and Qualifications Officer(s) together with practitioners* who are actively involved in the delivery of the qualifications covered by the NQST.

Other representation can be added to NQSTs. This may include:

• Faculty heads/team leaders
• Industry or employer representative
• HE representative
• Exam Team Members/Senior Verifier/Verifier
• Sector Skills Council
• Professional body
• Other stakeholder representatives, such as Education Scotland, Colleges Scotland and COLEG

As NQSTs are online forums supplemented by an annual meeting (in autumn), membership is unpaid and there is no payment for any release from employment. However, there is a personal benefit to being a member of an NQST in terms of continuing professional development and to centres in terms of building a pool of expertise.

The aim of a NQST is to participate in the continuous improvement of National Qualifications and to exemplify national standards.

NQSTs:

• Participate in dedicated NQST online forum.
• Participate in annual NQST meeting.
• Monitor, evaluate and communicate issues arising from the delivery, assessment and verification of National Qualifications (including practitioner comment raised in letters, emails, comment forms).
• Advise and assist in the development of SQA resources/events which exemplify national standards.
• Using local intelligence, monitor and feedback on the interest and uptake of National Qualifications, and assist in their promotion to a wide range of external stakeholders including learners.
• Liaise with stakeholders: Education Scotland, Colleges of Scotland, Sector Skills Councils, employers, professional bodies, teachers and learners to maintain and enhance recognition.
• Keep abreast of related developments and advise on potential developments/gaps in the market.
• Update relevant SQA committees/groups on activities and progress.

NQSTs will act in an advisory capacity with SQA having final responsibility for all decisions.

The list of NQSTs details the courses covered by each group. Where there are links between subjects, these have been grouped together for members who have an interest in a broad subject area to contribute to discussion across courses.

These groups will communicate primarily using dedicated online discussion forums. This allows SQA Qualifications Development staff to engage with practitioners and stakeholders on an immediate basis as issues arise.

Annual Meeting

Each NQST will also hold an annual meeting which will require members to be released from their centres. This release is not subject to compensation, although travel expenses will be reimbursed.

We have vacancies on most of our NQST groups. If you are interested in applying to become a member of an NQST, please firstly seek permission from your head of centre or employer then complete and submit the following NQST Application Form.

• Role profile
• NQST application form