Guide to Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
SVQs are work-based qualifications. Rooted in the workplace, they are inherently practical and offer a guarantee that someone can do their job well and to national standards. As SVQs are work-based qualifications, they don’t have to be done in the classroom — many people achieve these qualifications while carrying out their normal day-to-day work. SVQs are an integral part of Scotland’s suite of Modern Apprenticeships. These qualifications are also offered by colleges, training providers, and some schools (where they include a work-based component). There are SVQs for nearly all occupations in Scotland, from forestry to IT, management to catering, journalism to construction. Find out more at www.sqa.org.uk/svq
2 Who can do an SVQ?
All kinds of people can do SVQs, including: • apprentices and new staff members who have lots to learn • people who have lots of experience but no formally recognised qualifications • employees taking part in a training scheme at work • learners studying part-time at college or with a training provider • individuals who would like to follow up a qualification with practical and vocational skills
3 How SVQs work
There are no formal written exams — people doing SVQs build up and submit evidence, usually from their day-to-day work. SVQs specify the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed to do a job to the national standards of competence. The evidence that learners accumulate and submit is assessed against these standards. Learners can work through units one at a time, or can gather evidence for a number of units at the same time. SVQs are assessed by an SVQ assessor. Assessment could be at the learner’s place of work, at college or through a training provider. Assessors may ask questions or ask learners to submit records of work they have done.
4 Range of SVQs
There are over 500 SVQs available in a range of sectors, such as: • accounting • management • childcare • construction • dental nursing • oil and gas • business and administration View SQA qualifications onwww.sqa.org.uk/mysector
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
The SCQF helps make the relationships between qualifications clearer. Qualifications on the SCQF are compared using two measures: level and credit. The level of a qualification shows how difficult the learning is, and the amount of credit shows the length of time it takes to complete a qualification. Each SVQ is recognised on the SCQF, from SCQF level 4 to SCQF level 11.
5 SQA Qualifications in the SCQF Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework SCQF Levels Levels 12 Doctorate* 12
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A person who gains an SVQ has proven that they can do their job well, to national standards that have been agreed by the industry or commercial sector they are in. SVQs send powerful messages to employers that holders: • can do their job competently and confidently • are motivated and ambitious • are ready to take on responsibility • are committed to their work Employers are very aware of SVQs and appreciate their value. Likewise, admissions staff in colleges, universities, and other education institutions will take them into account.
8 9 SVQs and Modern Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships provide paid employment and the opportunity to train for jobs to anyone over 16 years. Modern Apprenticeships are an exciting way of gaining skills and qualifications. They help learners start a career without having to study full-time. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the TUC, and a wide range of employers support Modern Apprenticeships. Sector Skills Councils work with industry to develop the Modern Apprenticeship frameworks. Modern Apprenticeships are available across a wide range of sectors, and Sector Skills Councils decide on the format of training. SVQs are an integral part of Scotland’s suite of Modern Apprenticeships. Occupational SVQs at SCQF levels 6 and 7 are the core of every Modern Apprenticeship framework in Scotland. Find out more about apprenticeships at www.sqa.org.uk/apprenticeships
8 9 SVQs for employers
More companies are seeing education and training for their workforce as an investment, and SVQs are an integral part of their workforce development strategies. SVQs give employers a focused, on-the-job context for training and developing staff. They are an excellent way of making sure staff development programmes and business strategies go hand-in-hand. There are a number of clear benefits for employers delivering SVQs including: • Increased productivity • Improvements in quality • More loyal workforce • Improvements in staff retention
10 11 How to deliver SVQs
There are two ways to offer SVQs: 1. Become an SQA Approved Centre To become an SQA Approved Centre, an organisation will have to show that it has the management structure, processes, and quality assurance in place to underpin and support the delivery of SVQs. Working together with a dedicated account manager, an organisation will have to demonstrate that it has the staff, learning and assessment resources, and equipment needed to deliver SVQs. 2. Work with a training provider Organisations can also offer SVQs to their staff without becoming an SQA Approved Centre. SQA’s Business Development team can advise on local SQA Approved Training Providers who offer SVQs.
Get in touch To find out more about SVQs and SQA’s other qualifications and services, speak to our Business Development team today.
Visit www.sqa.org.uk/businessdevelopment, call 0303 333 0330, or e-mail [email protected]
10 11 MYSECTOR an easy search for qualifications
Find the ideal qualification for your future. www.sqa.org.uk/mysector
DD7654 April 2018