As you know, we recently updated PC Passport. You can find out more about the revised award by reading the FAQ. One of the features of the revised award is its links with Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS). We had a teleconference this afternoon to progress this. SQA awards are “vendor neutral” but we also have to recognise industry standards – and Microsoft Office is as close to an industry standard (in productivity software) as you can get. So, although PC…
As part of SQA’s Digital Media and IT Vendor Alliance (DIVA), our partner Oracle Academy is in a position to offer industry-relevant CPD online training courses to aid delivery of the new Computing Science qualifications. The courses cover Computing Science Information System Design and Development units at Higher and Advanced Higher (SCQF levels 6 and 7). This CPD activity is available from Oracle Academy free of charge but applicants will need to commit to: Java Fundamentals: 90 hours virtual study…
I’ve received a few enquiries about the review of PC Passport so I thought that it would be a good time to provide an update. PC Passport was originally introduced in 2004 and first reviewed in 2007. We commenced the second review in 2013. This second review was “parked” for a while since it was decided to split the development into two: one to develop a new suite of qualifications entitled “Digital Passport” and one to update PC Passport. Digital…
SCQF is Scotland’s national qualification framework. All SQA awards are given an SCQF credit and level. We also provide an SCQF rating service to third parties. This means that SQA will credit and level a qualification from another organisation. I was pleased when Microsoft approached SQA to credit and level some of their qualifications. Microsoft qualifications are globally recognised and it was keen to get their awards recognised in Scotland by putting them on SCQF. I met with representatives of…
The College Development Network (CDN) is currently carrying out some research into what colleges offer in the way of vendor certification. The intention is, once this is known, to provide training to lecturers. Lots of vocational Computing qualifications are linked to vendor awards so the offer of free training sounds like a great idea. If you’re interested in participating in this research. Please contact Gerry (of CDN) for more information about this project or contact Hilary for more information about…
I’ve been meaning to find the time to update you about PC Passport. This award has been under review since January, when the first QDT meeting took place. We’ve made a lot of progress since then. The qualification FAQ summarises the current state of the development. We’ve agreed a structure (at all three levels) and we are currently writing the units. They’re coming along well. We hope to validate the qualification late 2015 and have it available to centres from January…
