|
|
 |
|
|
Skills around the World: United Kingdom |
|
|
Click on the arrows or letters to reveal content.
|
The process through which a regulatory body confirms that a qualification and associated specification conform to national standards.
The process through which evidence of candidates’ attainments is evaluated against agreed criteria to provide the evidence for an award.
An organisation or consortium recognised by a regulatory authority for the purpose of awarding specified qualifications.
An organisation approved to assess and verify qualifications according to the criteria of the Quality Framework. In addition, centres may seek ISO 9000 approval.
An occupational expert who assesses learners' evidence against the standards.
A system of training regulated by law or custom which combines on-the-job training and work experience while in paid employment with formal off-the-job training. The apprentice enters into a contract of training or training agreement with an employer which imposes mutual obligations on both parties. Traditionally, apprenticeships were in trade occupations and were of four years’ duration.
A one-year academic course for students, allowing entry into Higher Education for those students who do not have the necessary qualifications.
An organisation (such as a school, college or workplace) accountable to an awarding body for the assessment arrangements leading to an award.
Education and training provision which is designed to enable learners to acquire, enhance and update their ability to meet the demands of specific occupation and work roles.
The process of registering learners, assessing them, recording their results, filling in their documentation and applying for their certificates.
Education and training providers often offer a series of related training sessions to provide the learner with the necessary knowledge and understanding of their chosen standard. These learning programmes also help learners to continuously progress towards assessment of their competence against the standards. The result of the assessment alone determines if a learner is awarded a certificate or not. A qualification cannot be achieved by merely attending a course.
A group of courses or programmes, or an occupational area, designated for inspection.
Non profit making organisations that operate within a single local community.
|
|
|
A qualification conferred in the higher education sector on successful completion of a programme of study or as an honour.
A qualification in the vocational education and training and higher education sectors.
A mode of education in which students enrolled in a course do not attend the institution, but study off-campus and may submit assignments by mail or email.
A person appointed by the awarding body to monitor the work of approved centres and to ensure the consistency and quality of local assessment.
The registration of a person with an education or training provider for the purpose of undertaking a programme or course.
The qualifications, knowledge, skills or experience required for entry to an education or training programme.
Organisations offering free business training advice, contacts and, in some cases, funding. They are publicly funded and exist nationwide.
|
|
|
A way of measuring the size of a country’s economy. GDP is defined as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a given country in a given period of time (usually a calendar year).
The quality manager appointed by the approved centre to ensure consistency and quality of assessment.
|
|
|
A range of skills which are relevant to all areas of work. They have been identified as the skills people need to underpin their performance in work and in life in general. They also help people to transfer skills more effectively from one area to another. Key Skills should be integrated and form part of courses. There are six Key Skills units: Communication, Application of Number, Information Technology, Problem Solving, Working with Others, and Improving Own Learning and Performance.
Certification is provided at different levels. These levels are recognised nationally so that any employer knows the level of competence reached.
These can take a variety of forms including: single qualifications, groups, modules or units of qualifications; greater knowledge, understanding and skills; occupational competence; milestones towards qualifications or employment; securing employment, or a place in higher or further education.
Organisation responsible for planning and funding education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities.
|
|
|
A business started with as little capital as possible, or with less capital than would be usual for a business.
Standards of Occupational Competence developed by a standard-setting body and approved by the regulatory authorities.
Vocational awards in England and Wales that are achieved through assessment and training. They are practical qualifications based on being able to do a job. There are five levels of NVQ ranging from Level 1, which focuses on basic work activities, to Level 5 for senior management.
A network of independent, not-for-profit, Local Enterprise Agencies providing a service to businesses.
These specify the standards of competence learners are expected to reach in a particular occupational area, including knowledge and understanding. The standards do not refer to a job role someone might have at a workplace, but to functions within a vocational area. They also provide the basis for assessment, which is crucial to their use in qualifications. The standards have been defined and are kept up to date by occupational standards groups.
Learning or training conducted via a computer network, e.g. using the internet and the World Wide Web, a local area network (LAN), or an intranet.
Training conducted at the work site (e.g. in a training room) but not on the job.
Training undertaken in the workplace as part of the productive work of the learner.
An approach to learning which gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, at what pace, where, and how they learn, commonly using distance education and the facilities of educational technology.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organisation representing 30 countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy.
|
|
|
A structured and integrated programme of education or training, usually consisting of a number of courses (subjects), and leading to the award of a qualification, i.e. certificates, diploma or advanced diploma.
Degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor’s degree is required. Normally considered to be part of tertiary or higher education.
This ensures a consistent approach to monitoring and maintaining quality in training, assessment and verification. For the standards, quality assurance is defined in the Quality Framework.
A certificate of achievement or competence specifying the awarding body, qualification type and title.
Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families. In England, the QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests and examinations, and accredits and monitors qualifications in colleges and at work.
An organisation set up by law to establish national standards for qualifications and to ensure consistent compliance with them.
Non-departmental public body established for the purpose of development, primarily economic, of one of England’s Government Office regions.
|
|
|
An organisation – usually a national training organisation or Sector Skills Council – recognised by a regulatory authority as responsible for formulating standards of competence for an employment sector and keeping them under review.
The segment of the economy that provides services to its consumers, including financial institutions, schools, transport and restaurants.
State-sponsored, employer-led organisations that cover specific economic sectors in the United Kingdom.
Certificate of vocational education in Scotland. SVQs are available to people of all ages and are developed, accredited and awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
Non-profit mutual benefit organisations formed to provide services for their members, promote education and professional standards, and influence governmental agencies through lobbying.
Trade unions: An organisation of workers with common goals in key areas such as wages, hours and working conditions.
|
|
|
This is a qualification based on national occupational standards of competence. It describes what people need to achieve to be fully competent in a particular occupational area, including essential knowledge and understanding.
Education designed to develop occupational skills. See also vocational education and training.
Post-compulsory education and training, excluding degree and higher level programmes delivered by higher education institutions, which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. VET also includes programmes which provide the basis for subsequent vocational programmes. Alternative terms used internationally include technical and vocational education and training (TVET), vocational and technical education and training (VTET), technical and vocational education (TVE), vocational and technical education (VTE), and further education and training (FET).
A period (usually one or two weeks) of unpaid work undertaken by secondary school students as part of their careers education, to provide some insight into the world of work.
The gathering and judging of evidence during normal work activities in order to determine whether a required standard has been achieved. Workplace assessment usually involves observation of work in progress, checking the product(s) of a work activity, and receiving oral responses to questions posed while work is in progress.
(also called field placement, vocational placement, structured work placement). A period of unpaid work with an employer undertaken by VET students in order to satisfy the requirements of a programme or course, with supervision provided by the employer, the training provider or both.
|
|
|
|
