2. SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY
WELCOME TO THE HNC/D SOCIAL SCIENCES
ANNUAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT EVENT
9 NOVEMBER 2016
Welcome to the annual staff development event for Social Sciences.
Carol Hunter, QM for Social Sciences
Fiona MacKinnon, QO for Social Science

3. PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY 10.00 am Coffee & Registration
10.30 am Welcome & SQA Update Carol Hunter, SQA
10.45 am Social Anthropology Joy Hendry, Professor Emerita, Oxford Brookes University and Honorary Fellow, Edinburgh University
11.30 am Good Practice Colin Ross, Curriculum Manager, Social Sciences, Ayrshire College and
Brian Dunn, Faculty Manager, Social Sciences, North East Scotland College
12 noon Break
12.15 pm Meet your External Verifier and
Social Sciences Secure Site
1.15 pm Plenary
1.30 pm Lunch

4. Work Undertaken Since November 2015
Published a Psychology Lab Workbook
Published a promotional brochure for students, teaching staff and parents
Have begun to publish a suite of co operative learning sessions –
Development of Sociology
Social Class & Education
This is just to remind you of key dates in relation to the lifespan of awards.
This will be the last year for the old HNC.

5. Work Undertaken Since November 2015
Added two new IT units within optional section of frameworks:
HF85 34 Emerging Technologies & Experiences (SCQF 7) x1 credit
H9DE 34 Digital Skills (SCQF 7) x1credit
An update of where we are at in terms of producing exemplars is included in your pack.

6. Work Undertaken Since November 2015
Commissioned an Assessment Support Pack for the unit Communication: Practical Skills in the context of Social Sciences
Initiated scoping exercise for the National Certificates in Social Sciences

7. Work Undertaken Since November 2015
Developed and published units in Social Anthropology:
Social Anthropology: Understanding our Place in the World (SCQF 5) x1
Social Anthropology: Who does it and how to do it (SCQF 6) x 1
Social Anthropology: The Body and its Life Course (SCQF 7) x 1
Social Anthropology (SCQF 8) x 1: Ethnology of Scottish Peoples
List of resources to accompany units

8. Work Undertaken Since November 2015
Undertook consultation for Politics Units
Recommendations:
Review Politics A, B and C units
A Unit - possibly change to introduction to political concepts and their application
B Unit – possibly political theory and an analysis of the UK situation
C Unit – have more of an emphasis on international relations; Outcome 1 – institutions and how they work; Outcome 2 – relationships between any 2 political systems/countries
Contact universities to ask what will be required for progression in the future

9. Work to be undertaken in 2016/17
Completed scoping exercise for HNC/D Social Sciences leading to plans for the following development work:
Revision of the assessment requirements of all C units; revising Evidence Requirements
Review of Research & Methodology and Research Issues Units:
Research Issues – make more practical; one Outcome theoretical; one Outcome practical; move ethics into Research & Methodology
Research & Methodology – make more practical; include a practical task using one of the methods; change numerical part to open book; aim is to understand research, ethics, quantitative methods and ability to analyse these

10. Work to be undertaken in 2016/17
Update topics for History units
Review topics for Psychology B & C
Develop a Criminology unit at SCQF level 7 – one that connects the level 6 unit to the level 8 unit
Produce a Skills Profile for the group awards
Hold event for universities or visit universities to promote awards
As above.

11. Requests for developments in 2017/18
Training event for Graded Unit
Assessment Support Pack for Investigation in the Social Sciences
Any other requests?

12. Internal Assessment Reports (IARs)
Strongly recommend prior verification of all Graded Unit assessments and reassessments submitted with marking guidelines
Marking guidelines for each question should be subdivided into Knowledge & Understanding and Evaluation & Conclusion
Look at developing a diverse assessment strategy across the awards
Provide minutes of verification meetings

13. Ushare
A new online community which allows you to share links to relevant resources that support the HNC/D Social Sciences
It allows you to submit links to resources and comment on and rate links submitted by other teaching professionals and learners
Available via the following:

14. CURRENT QST MEMBERS North East Scotland College
New College Lanarkshire
Ayrshire College
University of Highlands & Islands
City of Glasgow College
This is the current membership of the QDT.

15. Seeking New QST Members
To represent:
Glasgow Clyde College: Anniesland; Cardonald; Langside
Glasgow Kelvin College: Stow; John Wheatley, North Glasgow
West College Scotland: Reid Kerr; Clydebank; James Watt Inverclyde
Forth Valley College
West Lothian College
Fife College
Dundee and Angus
Edinburgh College

16. Seeking New External Verifiers
Currently seeking new External Verifiers for:
Philosophy

17. NQ Developments
Removal of internal unit assessment for courses at request of Scottish Government
Course assessments being reviewed
May be changes to both exams and assignments
Exams will sample more course content
N5 Course assessment specifications to be ready by April
N5 Specimen Question Paper to be ready by September

18. To Finish
Please share the information from today with your colleagues.
Key contact details:
Tel:
Tel:
Presentations from today on Social Sciences web page
Please complete evaluation which will be conducted via Survey Monkey; link to be sent out next week
As above.