SQA Accreditation: Accreditation and Regulation of ...
Transcript of SQA Accreditation: Accreditation and Regulation of ...
SQA Accreditation:
Accreditation and Regulation of Vocational
Qualifications in Scotland
FAB Conference 2019
Andy Crone & Laura Walkerdine
SQA Accreditation
• Maintain Quality & Standards of Qualifications offered
in Scotland
• Delivered in 2 ways, complimentary but separate
functions - Awarding
- Accreditation
• Education (Scotland) Act 1996
– Statutory requirement for Accreditation Committee
• Separate Governance mechanisms
– Directly through Accreditation Committee to Government
– Reports directly to Chief Executive
Regulation
Laura Walkerdine
SQA CORPORATE
SQA ACCREDITATIONSQA AWARDING BODY
Regulation Team
Our Regulatory Landscape
Scotland population 5.42 million
SQA Accreditation 38 approved awarding bodies
1026 qualifications
SQA Accreditation size = 20
Regulation Team = 7
3 Regulation Managers (to conduct all audit activity) 1:13
3 Regulation Officers (provider visits)
How to become approved?
General Approval Requirements:
• The organisation is able to provide evidence of financial
stability
• The organisation has a demonstrable track record
effectively delivering qualifications
• The organisation is currently based and operates from
within the European Union (EU) and/or the European
Free trade Association (EFTA)
• There are no grounds for believing that the
organisation’s owners, Directors or Senior Managers
are unfit to be in charge of the organisation
Approval LifecycleEnquiry
•Enquiry form submitted
•General approval requirements are met
•Risk assessment completed
Application for Approval (AC1) and Qualification Accreditation (AC2)
•Can the organisation meet our Regulatory Principles and Directives
•Risk assessment completed
ACG Decision on Awarding Body approval and qualification accreditation
The Accreditation Licence
•Signed by both parties enforces the regulatory relationship
Ongoing Approval
•Qualification accreditation submissions
•Ongoing risk assessment
•Audit and provider monitoring
•Annual self-assessment
•Data returns
Withdrawal
•Request submitted
•Terms of Accreditation Licence reviewed
•Qualification and candidate status addressed
•ACG to ratify
How do we regulate?
• Holistic as we are principles based (15 principles)
• Report by exception
• Enabling with actions set by the awarding body
• Risk based approach based upon highest risk first
• 3 year audit cycle
– High visited every year (until not high)
– Medium within next 2 years
– Low within 3 years
• New awarding bodies will be visited within first 12
months of approval
• Overall risk rating is the sum of open/outstanding risks
How do we regulate? Audit
Risk assessment
and prioritisation
Decision on regulatory resource to
meet requirements
Audit and PMV
engagement
Identify risks and issues
Awarding Body activity to address and close out issues
Plan
DoCheck
Act
How do we regulate? Risk
How do we regulate? Audit
Risk assessment
and prioritisation
Decision on regulatory resource to
meet requirements
Audit and PMV
engagement
Identify risks and issues
Awarding Body activity to address and close out issues
Plan
DoCheck
Act
Accreditation
Andy Crone
Accreditation Team
• Team of 7
• 6 Accreditation Managers (sectoral responsibilities)
• Seek to maintain and improve quality of qualifications
awarded in Scotland
• Approve Awarding Bodies (ABs)
Accreditation Team
• Approve National Occupational Standards (NOS)
• Approve Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
structures, Assessment Strategies and Core Skills
Signposting
• Approve other qualification structures where required
e.g. Emergency First Aid at Work / First Aid at Work
• Accredit qualifications (approve) for Awarding Bodies
• Credit Rate qualifications for the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
Qualifications
• Can accredit any qualification other than a degree
• Mandatory Accreditation
– Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) (549)
– Alternative Competency Based Qualifications that
form the mandatory component of Modern
Apprenticeships (100)
– Security sector e.g. Door Supervision (16)
– Licensing sector e.g. Scottish Certificate for
Personal Licence Holders (12)
– Workplace Core Skills (145)
• Voluntary Accreditation (204)
• Total = 1026 qualifications
Qualifications
2018/19
Standards and Frameworks
Programme
• Three Country funded programme (Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland)
• Funds the development of National Occupational
Standards (NOS), SVQ structures and
Apprenticeship Frameworks
• Accreditation section quality assure the NOS and
SVQ Structures
SQA Accreditation
Accreditation
Officer
Head of Accreditation
Accreditation
Administrators
(2)
Information &
Research Manager
Information
Assistant
Senior Accreditation
Manager
Accreditation
Managers (6)
Senior Regulation
Manager
Regulation
Managers (3)
Regulation
Officers (3)
SQA Accreditation has a staff of 20, managed in four
sections by the Head of Accreditation.
• Welsh Government & Qualification Wales (Wales)
• CCEA Accreditation & Department for the Economy
(Northern Ireland)
• Ofqual, Department for Education & Skills Funding
Agency (England)
• Scottish Government
• Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
• Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
Partnership
• Modern Apprenticeship Group (MAG)
Engagement with Other
Stakeholders
• Awarding Bodies approved by SQA Accreditation
• Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB)
• Standards Setting Organisations (SSOs) / Sector
Skills Councils (SSCs)
Engagement with Other
Stakeholders
In closing…
Benefits of Approval
• 5.42 million – a whole other market out there
• It’s free
• Your qualifications become accredited and regulated;
quality assured and audited
• Your qualifications are credit rated for the Scottish
Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
• No credit rating charge
• Dedicated support from our team of experts
Stakeholder Feedback
• Open
• Transparent
• Supportive
• Consistent
• Expert knowledge of qualifications and sectors
• Great service
• Responsive
• Proactive
Thank you so much for
your time.
Any questions?