We’re looking for experienced teachers, lecturers and trainers to join the External Verification team. External Verifiers (EVs) are responsible for maintaining national standards across SQA centres (in Scotland, the wider UK and internationally). It’s a paid role and a fantastic form of professional development since you get to experience how different centres deliver SQA qualifications. We’re particularly looking for people with school or university experience but college and training centre staff are welcome to apply too. You can find our…
Since I announced this development in January, a lot of progress has been made. We’ve decided on a qualification structure and identified the new units that need to be developed, which we’re in the process of writing. The validation event for the qualification will take place on 6 July. We’ve compressed the development process to ensure that the qualification is available to centres for the start of the new term (August). Several centres have expressed an interest in offering it…
The second meeting of the Qualification Development Team (QDT) for the second phase of Next Gen HN took place yesterday afternoon. There was another excellent turnout, with over 20 members attending, representing colleges, universities and employers. The first phase of Next Gen developed two qualifications: HNC Computing and HND Data Science. This work is now complete. The second phase will develop three qualifications: HND Computer Science, HND Networking & Infrastructure and HND Software Development. This QDT is responsible for these…
We are looking for volunteers to write and vet new SOLAR assessments for our new Data Skills units at levels 3,4&5. https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69843.pdf – (Level 3) https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69844.pdf – (Level 4) https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69845.pdf – (Level 5) It is paid work. If you are interested or have any queries, please get in touch with David.
The Qualifications Support Team (QST) for Computing met yesterday afternoon for it’s annual face-to-face (Microsoft Teams) meeting. The role of the QST, as the name suggests, is to support Computing qualifications. Members are drawn from colleges, schools and training centres. The QST also monitors uptake of the qualifications so I spent the first part of the meeting explaining trends over the last 10 years. There has been a significant increase in uptake of the vocational Computing portfolio since 2012 (around…
Regular readers will know that we’re currently developing a new National Progression Award in Esports at SCQF Levels 4, 5 and 6. In total, nine new units will be developed. Esports: The Esports Industry (SCQF Level 4) Esports: The Esports Industry (SCQF Level 5) Esports: The Esports Industry (SCQF Level 6) Esports: Game Performance (SCQF Level 4) Esports: Game Performance (SCQF Level 5) Esports: Game Performance (SCQF Level 6) Esports: Organising & Promoting Events (SCQF Level 4) Esports: Organising &…
Following Bobby’s previous post, these units have now been finalised. These can be found here: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69843.pdf – (Level 3) https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69844.pdf – (Level 4) https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/nq/J69845.pdf – (Level 5) Please contact myself if you have any other queries.
I’m a member of a project board, which is part of the DDI initiative ran by the University of Edinburgh. The convener asked me to update members about the new Data Skills units. I created a short presentation and, as part of that, I produced a slide that summarises all of the qualifications relating to data science. The illustration shows the portfolio of data science qualifications available to centres. There’s now something spanning SCQF Level 3 to SCQF Level 9.…
We’ve recently commenced the development of a new National Unit relating to cyber security at SCQF Level 3. The unit will be titled “Cyber Security”. The development is taking place in response to a request from Education Scotland to provide something at this level. We currently offer Cyber Security Fundamental and Internet Safety at SCQF Level 4. It’s early days in the development but we’re planning on focusing on cyber security and not the wider subject of Internet safety. Given…
The Qualification Development Team (QDT) for NPA Esports met today for the third time. The main task today was to agree a qualification structure. The following structure was approved. Esports: The Esports Industry Esports: Game Performance Esports: Organising & Promoting Events. This will be the same at each of the three levels (National 4, National 5 and Higher), which will help with progression between levels and multi-level teaching. Each of the units will be available on a stand-alone basis, too.…
I’m pleased to let you know that the development of new National Units in Data Skills is now complete. Three new units will be available from 1 August. Data Skills (SCQF Level 3) Data Skills (SCQF Level 4/National 4) Data Skills (SCQF Level 5/National 5). The units focus on the key knowledge and skills needed to understand the data and statistics commonly used in the media and daily life. The motivation for the units came from Data Education in Colleges…
As you know from previous posts, the new Diploma in Digital Technology at SCQF Level 8 will replace the existing level 8 diploma’s in Data Analytics and for Information Security Professionals. We decided to extend the existing level 8 diplomas by a few months, therefore, both of these diplomas will now go into lapsing on 30/06/2022. We are hopeful that the new Level 8 Diploma will be available to centres in the near future. If you have any questions, please…
If you read our previous blog post, you will be aware that our first QDT meeting for the second phase of the HN Next Gen development took place on Tuesday 1st March. The meeting was successful and we are now progressing to the next stage of the development. We are looking for two learner representatives to join our QDT. The learner representative will be a full QDT member and will be the student voice at our meetings, helping to shape…
The second meeting of the Qualification Development Team (QDT) for NPA Esports met on Friday afternoon. We commenced this development in January and hope to have it completed by June so that centres can offer it from August. There was a great turn-out considering the day and time. There’s lots of interest in, and enthusiasm for, this development. Most of the meeting was taken up by the lead developer explaining the consultation that she’s carried out, and discussion around the…
If a career in Cyber Security sounds like something for you, check out the new Guide to Cyber Security Qualifications in Scotland from Digital World and Skills Development Scotland. This interactive resource identifies the range of qualifications available for individuals at all levels, who are interested in pursuing a career in Cyber Security. For more information contact roz.denham@sds.co.uk.
The Qualification Development Team (QDT) for the second phase of Next Gen HN Computing met for the first time yesterday. Nineteen members attended the online meeting, representing colleges, universities and employers. As many of you will know, QDTs are responsible for developing new qualifications. The first meeting was more information-giving than qualification-developing since I had to bring members up-to-date with what we did in the first phase (HNC Computing and HND Data Science) and what we’ve got to do in…
The Next Gen core team have been working on a new HN Next Gen website. The new site is user-friendly and easy to navigate – whether you’re looking for information on meta-skills, upcoming events and webinars, or interested in reading about our pilot centre experiences. The website will be helpful for practitioners to keep up to date with the development as it progresses and as more resources become available. If you have any queries in relation to computing, please contact amy.blain@sqa.org.uk.…
I recently posted about a change to the way we communicate and support centres. I thought that this is a good time to describe the various social media channels we use. Firstly, there’s the SQA website and, more importantly if you teach Computing, the Computing subject page, where you’ll find information about all our qualifications and other important information such as reports from the Senior External Verifier. As previously mentioned, we’re focusing our support for specific qualifications on Yammer, where…
Many of you will know Walter Patterson who has now joined the Next Gen team as a Subject Implementation Manager (SIM) for Computing. SIMs have been appointed to help subject team develop and implement Next Gen qualifications. I’m delighted to have Walter’s knowledge and experience available to help with this important development. Although most of Walter’s time will be spent working on phase 2 of NG-HN (HND Computer Science, HND Networking and HND Software Development), he’ll help us complete the…
Many of you will know that the team has been using mailing lists for a number of years to help with communication and collaboration. These services come and go and the last one to go was Groupspaces, which closed last year. These services are free and they’re generally unsustainable over a long period of time. So we’ve decided to bring these communications in-house by using the SQA Computing network on Yammer. There are already over 300 members and we plan…
