ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) and the QCF Advance Overview

The QCF framework New way of recognising achievement: awarding a credit value for units and qualifications Qualifications titles, sizes and levels (entry→ L8) standardised nationally: Awards (1-12 credits), Certificates (13-36 credits), Diplomas (37+ credits) Qualifications will be: –designed to fit a national (unit) template with learning outcomes and assessment criteria –subject to agreed rules of combination (RoC) –migrated to the new framework by end 2010

Credits and Levels All units will be assigned a credit value at a level Levels are same as NQF – L2 roughly GSCE level, L3 A Level, L4 1 st year undergrad, L8 PhD. One credit = 10 notional learning hours (NLH) NLH –average time it would take a learner to complete a unit –consists of guided learning hours (GLH), personal study time, ‘on the job’ experience, assessment preparation and assessment time

QCF structure

Ofqual’s Equivalencies

General observations The framework has changed, but methods of assessment have not Each unit needs to be able to be assessed separately, but evidence can still be used across a number of units where appropriate Greater flexibility may result in qualifications with more than one assessment model - we will consider the assessment burden when developing rules of combination Full scheme documentation, including entry details, will be available on the our website Unnamed registration routes will be available Full qualification and unit entry will be available

Further information More information about the QCF is available on the following websites:

ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) Developed to move the current IT Practitioner/Professional into the QCF Existing units redeveloped New units developed Available at Levels 2-3 Award, Certificate, Diploma are available at Level 2 & 3, plus Extended Diploma (Level 3 only) The QCF allows candidates to complete units for a qualification across levels A candidate working towards a level 3 qualification can achieve with units awarded at level 2 * *provided the minimum requirements for the level are met

Examples of New and re-developed units TitleLevelCreditTitleLevelCredit Customer Care Hardware Installation Organisation and Planning of own work Schedule 24Information Management Management and Planning of Own Work Schedule 38Maintaining Equipment and IT Systems Asset Management Service Delivery Computer Forensics Supplier Management

Vendor Units Please see e-skills/NDAQ website for full list of vendor units once accredited as there are too many to list. Microsoft – All Active units are available CompTIA – A wide range are available Cisco – CCNA Discovery/Exploration & IT Essentials are available Oracle – Includes Database Administrator VM Ware – Master Enterprise Administrator/Design

Level 2 ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) Award Certificate Diploma 12 credits 24 credits 37 credits No mandatory unit One mandatory unit Two mandatory units

L2 Award/Certificate/Diploma achievement Award - A minimum of 8 credits must be achieved at Level – 105 GLH Certificate - A minimum of 15 credits must be achieved at Level GLH Diploma - A minimum of 23 credits must be achieved at Level GLH

Level 3 ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM ) Award Certificate Diploma 12 credits 24 credits 48 credits No mandatory unit One mandatory unit Two mandatory units Extended Diploma 72 credits Two mandatory units

L3 Award/Certificate/Diploma/ Extended Diploma achievement Award - A minimum of 8 credits must be achieved at Level – 105 GLH Certificate - A minimum of 15 credits must be achieved at Level – 190 GLH Diploma - A minimum of 30 credits must be achieved at Level – 390 GLH Extended Diploma - A minimum of 42 credits must be achieved at Level – 710 GLH

Spiky Profile – Cross Level Achievement Level 3 Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioners/Professionals (PROCOM) – example of achievement L3 Mandatory Unit – Management and prioritisation of own schedule – 8 credits L3 Optional unit – Computer Forensics – 8 credits L2 Optional unit – Hardware installation – 4 credits L2 Vendor unit – 5 credits Candidate achieves a full level 3 qualification at 24 credits, meeting the minimum 15 credit requirements at L3 and units from adjacent level = 25

Assessment Candidates are still required to meet all assessment objectives The ICT Systems and Principles for IT Practitioner/Professional (PROCOM) Qualification will continue to use the externally moderated submission method

Equivalences GCSE –L2 Award – ½ B –L2 Certificate – 2 B –L2 Diploma – 3 B UCAS points –80 Level 3 Diploma –100 Level 3 Extended Diploma

Support All assessment material will be on the our website Exemplar material to be developed for new units New handbooks and units available from Sept 2010

Summary QualificationThresholdAchievable at Level MandatoryOptional Min L2 Award In ICT Systems and Principles 128None12 L2 Certificate In ICT Systems and Principles 2415One (4 credits) 20 L2 Diploma In ICT Systems and Principles 3723Two (10 credits) 27 L3 Award In ICT Systems and Principles 128None12 L3 Certificate In ICT Systems and Principles 2415One (8 credits) 16 L3 Diploma In ICT Systems and Principles 4829Two (15 credits) 33 L3 Extended Diploma In ICT Systems and Principles 7244Two (15 credits) 57