Vocational Qualifications UK

The UK should have a comprehensive alternative to vendor IT qualifications by the end of this yar.

UK professionals should have access to a comprehensive vendor-independent qualification designed to replace the unpopular National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) by the end of this year.

NVQs, sometimes referred to by critics as standing for 'Not Very Qualified', are an attempt to create a competent and transferable IT qualification that concentrates on general skills rather than on developing proficiency in the products of one specific vendor.

In cooperation with the Learning Skills Council, the UK sector skills council for IT e-skills and a number of major vendors, the new qualification is intended to provide IT professionals with a transferable, flexible certification independent of any one vendor.

Steve Lloyd, a senior consultant for independent examination organisation City & Guilds, said that the new IT professional NVQ programme, yet to be named, would build around the work done on the new user-level NVQ qualification,which is due to launch at the beginning of August.

Lloyd said that the new NVQ will have the ability to integrate with vendor qualifications, which have always had much more credibility in the industry. "No more will we have this brick wall between vendor and open qualifications," he said.

 

What is an NVQ? NVQs
What are National
Occupational Standards?

A National Vocational Qualification, or NVQ, is a nationally recognised qualification, which serves to demonstrate that a person is able to work to a set
national standard in their field.
NVQs are designed to measure a person’s competence in the workplace, so
they are completed at work as opposed to in a college or university.
There are 5 different levels of NVQs, starting from level 1, which is equivalent
to a basic qualification, going up to level 5, which is equivalent to a masters
degree. On the whole, NVQs tend to be accessed by the wider health care team at
levels 2-3 prior to professional qualification.
NVQs are based on National Occupational Standards, or NOSs.
The NHS is trying to encourage more of its staff to gain NVQs in order to help
them to achieve their potential. NVQs can help staff to move up the career ladder
towards professional qualifications, which in turn allows the NHS to
create a larger, more competent workforce.
NVQs can provide the vehicle to accredit the new skills that
staff are developing as they expand their roles.
“
National Occupational Standards, or NOSs, are guidelines set down by
Government recognised bodies with employers which state the competency level
expected of employees in particular fields.

What are the advantages of the NVQ route to qualifications rather than the traditional routes of courses and examinations?

A. The advantages of the NVQ route are as follows:

·There are no formal entry requirements.

· It can be gained in a variety of ways

· It takes into account previous relevant experience

· It allows someone to work at their own pace · Assessments are based on what happens in the workplace

· Credit is given for what someone can do as well as what they know

· Units can be gained one at a time and used to obtain the NVQ certificate when a full set of units has been achieved

Q. How does an employer benefit from a qualified workforce?

A. Employers involved have been impressed by the commitment of their staff and realise that staff qualified by the work based route will move their business forward by providing them with:

· Highly motivated people who can contribute to improving efficiency and productivity

· Minimum disruption to their day-to-day business.

· Access to Quality initiative that is in line with "Investors in People" and ISO2002