© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 1 Professional Driver Training Seminar The Perfect Professional Driver ”How to Evaluate Competency” Istanbul, 29 September 2005 Martin Chisholm Vocational Qualifications Manager, Scottish Qualification Authority, United Kingdom Martin Chisholm Vocational Qualifications Manager, Scottish Qualification Authority, United Kingdom YourLogo YourLogo

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 2 SQA – Introduction (1)  National body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment and certification of qualifications. (other than degrees)  Non-departmental Government body responsible to Ministers of Scottish Executive.  Links with Education Department and Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 3 SQA - Introduction (2)  Primarily funded through qualification entry charges  600 staff located in Glasgow and Edinburgh.  Several thousand part time appointees mainly subject specialists ie markers, moderators, writers  1800 approved centres

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 4 SQA – Introduction (3)  Sole awarding body for the school sector  Major awarding body for FE Colleges  Major awarding body for Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and other vocational qualifications across schools, colleges, employers and training providers.  Deliver customised awards and Professional Development Awards.

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 5 SQA Introduction (4)  Regulatory responsibility across all SVQ awarding bodies operating throughout UK.  One of four partners for Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) – aligns with other UK frameworks and participates with European framework developments  Credit rating body for SCQF

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 6 Commercial Testing  Provides a commercial testing and certification service: Department for Transport Dangerous Goods Branch – Safety Advisor qualification. Department for Transport Dangerous Goods Branch – Safety Advisor qualification. Maritime and Coastguard Agency – Certificates of Competency: Deck & Engineer officers Maritime and Coastguard Agency – Certificates of Competency: Deck & Engineer officers Scottish Police College – Police (Scotland) Promotions Examinations. Scottish Police College – Police (Scotland) Promotions Examinations. Department of Transport, UK Street Works register. Department of Transport, UK Street Works register.

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 7 SQA’s functions  Devise, develop & validate qualifications  Approve education & training establishments  Arrange for, assist & carry out assessments  Quality assure establishments which offer our qualifications  Issue certificates to candidates

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 8 Examination system  Traditional examination based method: Develop & issue syllabus/course content Develop & issue syllabus/course content Produce question papers & support materials Produce question papers & support materials Appoint examiners, invigilators & markers Appoint examiners, invigilators & markers Issue candidate results & certificates Issue candidate results & certificates Administer an appeals procedure Administer an appeals procedure Prepare & publish a range of examination statistics Prepare & publish a range of examination statistics

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 9 Consistency in examination system  Adherence to agreed specification  Consistent application of related marking guidelines  Careful administration of all stages of awarding procedures  Benchmarking arrangements  Internal and external auditing arrangements

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 10 Competence based system (1)  National Occupational Standards (NOS): Identify the main roles and responsibilities within a defined occupational area Identify the main roles and responsibilities within a defined occupational area Title of the qualification and the unit titles that make up the qualification Title of the qualification and the unit titles that make up the qualification Show the outcomes of competent performance, including the essential knowledge and understanding required Show the outcomes of competent performance, including the essential knowledge and understanding required

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 11 Competence based system (2)  Ensure the competence is broad enough to give flexibility in employment  Be capable of adaptation to meet new and emerging occupational patterns  Core plus optional structure  Involve Awarding Bodies

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 12 NOS requirements Include any statutory or legal requirements Include any statutory or legal requirements Include any health and safety requirements Include any health and safety requirements Be free from overt or cover discrimination against an individual either in wording or content Be free from overt or cover discrimination against an individual either in wording or content

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 13 What do they look like ?  Expressed in outcomes  Contain both performance and knowledge requirements, in unit form  Reflects current legislation and Health and Safety  Incorporates industry needs  Produced through a process of occupational and functional mapping

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 14 Who produces them ?  Sector Skills Councils Employer led Employer led Trade Union representation Trade Union representation Professional bodies & other stakeholders Professional bodies & other stakeholders Independent, UK wide organisations Independent, UK wide organisations

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 15 Uses of NOS  Business planning  Workforce management  Selection and recruitment  Employee development  Developing and evaluating training  For qualifications eg SVQs

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 16 Qualifications - SVQs  Each SVQ qualification will have an assessment strategy attached to it: occupational competence and expertise of the Assessor, Internal Verifier and External Verifier occupational competence and expertise of the Assessor, Internal Verifier and External Verifier Simulation Simulation performance in the workplace performance in the workplace external quality control external quality control

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 17 Qualifications – SVQs (2)  Produced over five levels: Level 1 – application of routine knowledge & skills Level 1 – application of routine knowledge & skills Level 5 – application of skills & knowledge across a significant range of fundamental principles Level 5 – application of skills & knowledge across a significant range of fundamental principles  Approximately 450 individual SVQs Across occupational areas including transport by road and rail Across occupational areas including transport by road and rail

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 18 Quality Assurance  Appoint, train, deploy and monitor subject specialists to carry out QA activities  Approve centres to offer our qualifications  Carry out external moderation activities on centres  Benchmarking of standards  SQA is subject to external scrutiny through our committee structure and auditing by independent bodies

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 19 And finally  Thank you to the IRU Academy  Any questions ?

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2005Professional Driver Training Seminar Sep 2005Page 20 Professional Driver Training Seminar YourLogo