2. SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY
WELCOME TO THE HNC/D SOCIAL SCIENCES
ANNUAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT EVENT
5 NOVEMBER 2014
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 10.30 am Coffee & Registration
11.00 am Welcome & SQA Update Carol Hunter, SQA
Carolyn Laird, New College Lanarkshire
11.30 am Diverse Assessment Brian Dunn, North East Scotland College
12.15 pm Workshop 1 (Sharing of Good Practice/School College Partnerships)
12.45 pm Workshop 2 (Sharing of Good Practice/School College Partnerships)
1.15 pm Plenary
1.30 pm Lunch

4. VALIDATION DATES Old HND G87J 16 finish date 31/07/2015
New HNC GC3J 15 start 01/08/2011- valid indefinitely
New HND GC3K 16 start date 01/08/ valid indefinitely
Five year review due
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. 2014 Operational Plan Update
1st October validation of PDAs in Sociology, Psychology, Politics and History
Available from January 2015
SCQF level 7 awards comprise the A + B units
SCQF level 8 awards comprise the C + D units
Awards aimed at:
Part-time and evening class learners
Full-time learners
Adult returners
Year 6 school pupils
Those seeking CPD
An update of where we are at in terms of producing exemplars is included in your pack.

6. 2014 Operational Plan Update contd.
Purpose:
Widen participation
Meet needs of variety of learners
Provide element of specialisation in the Social Sciences
Develop skills required for Higher Education
Develop skills for Employment
Develop learning and study skills
Provide a fall back position for those who may not be able to achieve the full HNC/D
Provide sense of achievement for candidates
Provide alternatives to discontinued Advanced Highers and offer progression opportunities to university
Provide opportunities for school/college partnerships
Provide flexible entry to Higher Education
Useful for centres that cannot offer whole HNC/HND

7. 2014 Operational Plan Update contd.
Work underway on development of PDA in Criminology at SCQF level 8
Mandatory unit – FM43 35 Criminology (x2 credits)
Plus one unit from:
FK8R 34 Sociology A: Introduction to Sociology (x1 credit)
FK8D 34 Psychology A: History and Development of Psychology (x1 credit)
FK85 34 Politics A: An Introduction to Political Theories of the State (x1 credit)
F1A7 34 Scottish Legal System (x1 credit)
F1B4 34 Scottish Criminal Law (x1 credit)
F0EB 35 Criminal Justice System in Scotland (x1 credit)

8. 2014 Operational Plan Update contd.
Designed to introduce candidates to topics and debates that inform contemporary justice; develop skills to evaluate theories of crime causation and of criminalisation; examine the role and aims of the Criminal Justice System in Scotland.
Provides credit within HNC Social Sciences, HNC Legal Studies and HNC Police Studies
Aimed at:
Part-time and evening class learners
Full-time learners
Adult returners
Those seeking CPD
Validate by March 2015

9. 2014 Operational Plan Update contd.
Developing a Psychology Lab experiment book
Developing examples of co operative learning sessions
Minor amendments to Sociology A and Sociology B
Publishing Diverse Assessment Guide
Producing a promotional leaflet for schools
As above.

10. 2014 Operational Plan Update contd.
Publishing an example of an academic poster for Politics
Published example of candidate response for HND examination (Research Issues/Politics/Psychology) on
Published FAQ sheet on remediation and reassessment SQA web site
Piloting alternative assessments for Sociology A + B and Sociology B + C as part of HN Articulation Project

11. CURRENT QST MEMBERS North East Scotland College
Dundee and Angus College
Fife College
New College Lanarkshire
Ayrshire College
Edinburgh College
College Development Network
University of Highlands & Islands
City of Glasgow College
This is the current membership of the QDT.

12. 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

13. Seeking New External Verifiers
Currently recruiting new External Verifiers for:
Psychology
Philosophy
Geography
Closing date 14 November
Details can be found on SQA Appointee Opportunities page of SQA web site

14. To Finish Contact details in pack
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.