2. HN Modernisation Project Annual Report John Young Director Qualifications

3. HN Modernisation Project Objectives  Updating skills and knowledge of candidates to enable them to operate in a modern dynamic economy  Rationalisation to produce a coherent, cost effective catalogue  Reduction of the assessment burden and e- enabling qualifications  Improved guidance on all aspects to improve understanding of national standard, and enhance delivery, assessment and attainment  Increased funding to support the modernisation programme and provision of support materials

4. HN Modernisation Project Modernisation  Closer alignment to National Occupational Standards  Greater involvement of employers and Sector Skills Councils in the design and validation of HNC/Ds  Endorsement and recognition by professional bodies  Partnership agreements with employers  Increased flexibility and accessibility

5. HN Modernisation Project Rationalisation  Originally 800 Group Award titles and 10,000 HN Units  Successful partnership approach has led to a significant reduction - now 271 unique Group Awards and 6000 Units  Group Award categories: -135 consortia developments -67 specialist collaborative developments -69 specialist single centre developments

6. HN Modernisation Project Validation  Consortia developments -125 validated fully -Remainder (10) on track to be validated by end of April 2007  Specialist Collaborative developments -17 validated fully -Remainder (50) to be validated by December 2008  Specialist Single Centre developments -Six validated fully -Remainder (63) to be validated by December 2008

7. HN Modernisation Project HN Development Schedules  HN Modernisation Schedule – includes all HNC/Ds to be modernised in line with 2003 Design Principles  HN Review Schedule – includes all modernised HNC/Ds which are now subject to minimum five year review  Can be viewed on HN pages of SQA website – www.sqa.org.uk www.sqa.org.uk

8. HN Modernisation Project Assessment and E-enablement  Guidance and staff development for qualification designers and validators on the use of holistic and integrated assessment  Additional guidance on Graded Units including: -SFEU workshops -Guidance on timing and materials required for external verification -Guidance on the management, delivery and assessment of Graded Units  Future guidance on ensuring manageability of assessment burden across Group Awards  Extension of ESF funding for the production of e- assessments and other support materials

9. HN Modernisation Project Guidance and staff development  Range of guidance now available on HN pages of SQA website (www.sqa.org.uk) including:www.sqa.org.uk –HN Units –Validation Panel Members’ Guide –Graded Units – design and implementation –Core Skills Signposting –Use of National Occupational Standards –Meeting HEI articulation requirements –HEI admission tutors’ guide –Marketing and promotional templates –HN Centre Toolkit –Exemplification through Group Awards Arrangements Documents and Subject Web pages

10. HN Modernisation Project Future objectives  National Qualifications Group Award Development Programme –Three to five year project –Development of a range of National Certificates and National Progression Awards from SCQF levels 2 to 6 –Modernisation of those National Units not revised as part of National Courses –Delivered by colleges in partnership with schools, employers, training providers –Provide progression to HNC/Ds, SVQs, degrees and/or employment  Modernisation of Professional Development Awards at SCQF levels 6 to 8  Continued development of Professional Development Awards at SCQF level 9 and above  Promotion of HN qualifications as “qualifications of choice” for young people in schools