National Vocational Qualifications in the United Kingdom

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National Vocational Qualifications in the United
Kingdom
Author Richard Leach Venue Turku,
Finland Date 14th September 2007
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What is an NVQ?

• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are
  work related, competence based qualifications.
• NVQs reflect best practice and are based on
  National Occupational Standards written by the
  particular employment-led Sector Skills council
• NVQ Units are achieved by demonstrating
  competence at work

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NVQ Levels

• NVQs are available in 5 levels, for Engineering
  these roughly correspond to
• Level 1 Operators routine and predictable
• Level 2 Operators with Higher Skills some
  complex, non routine
• Level 3 Technician, Craft employees and Team
  Leaders mainly complex, non routine
• Level 4 Technician Engineers, Engineers and
  Engineering Managers complex technical and
  strategic tasks
• Level 5 Professional Engineers professional
  engineering

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How are NVQs Implemented?

• The whole system is administered by the
  Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) who
  approve and monitor awarding bodies
• Sector Skills Councils (SSC) work with industry
  to develop occupational standards that are used
  to define the NVQs
• Awarding Bodies approve centres to deliver NVQs.
  They will be approved by QCA and oversee quality

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Qualification Structure

• NVQ structure includes
• Qualification title
• Skill area
• Unit titles
• General breakdown of activities
• Units Are Written to include
• Evidence routes
• Elements
• Performance criteria
• Range
• Knowledge Skills

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Evidence

• An NVQ is achieved by proving workplace
  competence
• The specified standards for NVQs have been
  developed by people analysing the functions and
  key activities carried out in the workplace
• To achieve an NVQ a candidate must demonstrate
  that they meet all criteria by collecting and
  presenting evidence, usually in the form of a
  portfolio

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...In general there are two types of evidence

• Performance Evidence, i.e evidence of actually
  doing the job
• Direct observation
• Finished article
• Production records
• Witness statements
• Knowledge Evidence i.e evidence that indicates
  the candidates knowledge of the job achieved
  through questioning

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The Process

• Employee/Trainee is registered for appropriate
  NVQ
• Candidate undergoes training in accordance with
  an agreed assessment plan
• Evidence is gathered and recorded in portfolio
• Candidate undergoes regular visits in the
  workplace by a qualified assessor
• The assessor will assist the candidate through
  the assessment process by ensuring there are
  appropriate training opportunities and also make
  assessment decisions and provide feedback

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The Process cont...

• Assessment decisions made by the assessor will be
  sampled by an Internal Verifier to assure quality
• The Internal verifier will also advise and
  support assessors and candidates as and when
  required and ensure standardisation of assessment
  within the organisation
• The Internal Verifier will in turn be monitored
  by an External Verifier employed by the awarding
  body to ensure that their requirements are met.

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Apprenticeships

• The UK Apprenticeship frameworks are defined by
  the Sector Skills Councils
• Essentially two types
• Apprenticeship consists of appropriate NVQ2,
  Technical Certificate , and Key Skills at level
  1/2
• Advanced Apprenticeship - consists of appropriate
  NVQ3, Technical Certificate , and Key Skills at
  level 2
• Technical Certificates provide the underpinning
  knowledge for the NVQ
• Funding is only available for 16 24yr learners

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Higher Apprenticeships

• The new Higher Apprenticeship is a programme
  designed to incorporate the new Foundation
  Degrees into work-based learning
• On a Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering, a
  young person would achieve
• 1 x NVQ level 4 or 2 x NVQ level 3 plus NVQ level
  4 units
• Foundation Degree in Engineering
• Basic Skills, PEO or PMO
• 5 x Key Skills at level 3
• Professional Institution Standards UK Spec

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Useful Links

• http//www.cityandguilds.com - City Guilds
• http//www.eal.org.uk - EMTA Awards Limited
• http//www.edexcel.org.uk - Edexcel (BTEC)
• http//www.semta.org.uk - SEMTA (Engineering
  Sector Skill Council)
• http//www.qca.org.uk - Qualifications and
  Curriculum Authority
• http//www.ssda.org.uk - Sector Skills
  Development Agency
• http//providers.lsc.gov.uk/LAD/aims/searchcriteri
  a.asp - LSC learning aims database

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Any Questions?
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