Glasbrintiau Cymwysterau
City and Guilds has recently announced the expiry and discontinuation of a number of NVQs in Skillset's footprint.
City and Guilds' decision to discontinue the awarding of Skillset NVQs is based on the business case for awarding qualifications. They are reviewing their portfolio of qualifications across all sectors, not just Creative Media - dropping those awards for which they do not see a strong enough business case. This decision partly comes down to numbers of registrations - which, for Skillset's NVQs, will always be relatively small.
However, the awarding of these important qualifications does not rely on City and Guilds being the awarding body - although Skillset fully appreciates the importance of their reputation and recognition as an organisation, and that this plays a part in the recognition of the qualifications themselves.
Skillset is working with a number of other awarding bodies, some of which are interested in picking up these qualifications. No matter which awarding body awards these qualifications, they will be based on the same National Occupational Standards and rigorous assessment strategy.
The NVQs currently sit in a ‘National Qualifications Framework' and are expiring in 2010. A new ‘Qualifications and Credit Framework' (QCF) will replace the existing framework and will provide learners an opportunity to gain credit for their achievements. The arrangements for developing and awarding qualifications are changing slightly in order to make qualifications much more flexible and responsive to learner and employer needs.
For our NVQs, this means that Skillset still has a lead role in their development. We will be the body submitting them to the QCF, which means we have direct control over their content and qualification structure.
Therefore, if industry does not want these qualifications to change, we can ensure they remain as they are. Alternatively, we now have an opportunity to revisit the content and qualification structures. If a particular industry feels the need for improvements or amendments, Skillset will work with the awarding body/ies, in consultation with that industry, to make these adjustments before submission to the QCF.
We will be in touch with all relevant parties to discuss forthcoming NVQ redevelopments. However, if you wish to discuss this matter urgently, please contact Liz Bennett in Skillset's Qualifications Team at elizabethb@skillset.org.