Professional Development Award in Cyber Security

As part of the HNC Cyber Security development, we will also create a new suite of Professional Development Awards (PDAs) in Cyber Security. PDAs are like NPAs – but higher level. They have flexible design rules (for example, they can consist of anything from two credits to 12 credits) and are intended for people in employment who want to update their professional skills. We plan to create three new qualifications:

• PDA Cyber Security at SCQF Level 7
• PDA Cyber Security at SCQF Level 8
• PDA Cyber Security at SCQF Level 9.

Centres, generally, like small awards and also like hierarchical qualifications (with the same structure at each level) so it may be that we do something similar with this development. The NPAs in Cyber Security consist of three units (in a hierarchy) and this has proven to be popular in schools and colleges.

Although these PDAs will be stand-alone qualifications, they will be embedded inside the forthcoming HNC and the planned HND. So, for example, anyone who completes the PDA at Level 7 will have a number of credits towards the HNC.

We think that these PDAs could be very popular. There is a growing demand for cyber skills and, if we do our job properly, these awards could provide those skills. The PDA at Level 7 will be available in June 2018, Level 8 and 9 in June 2019. Please contact Helen for more information.

Bobby Published 30/10/2017